Chapter 51: The Deceptiveness of Appearances
Mu Lichuan naturally knew that every nation had its laws, and every profession had its rules. Their sudden intrusion into the capital and their unexpected rise in someone else’s territory would inevitably provoke displeasure. He had been waiting for them to come to his door.
"Hold on, let me prepare." Mu Lichuan's expression was perfectly measured. The villa housed only him and his grandfather, making it feel somewhat empty. But since both were cultivators, inviting outsiders would only disrupt their peace.
The middle-aged man showed no dissatisfaction. Before assessing the other party’s capabilities, it was wiser to remain low-key. People like them were considered anomalies in the eyes of science, so they couldn’t afford to be too conspicuous. Nothing was more important than "policy."
Mu Lichuan’s name had spread instantly within their circle because he had subdued the evil entity in the "haunted house." In truth, the rumor about the villa being haunted had been deliberately spread by them to prevent ignorant people from moving in and losing their lives.
Dressed in casual clothes with a small backpack, Mu Lichuan looked no different from a middle school student (he was 15 yo), his aura radiating youthful innocence. Yet, this very boy had subdued the evil entity. "Never judge a person by their appearance, nor measure the sea with a bucket," this was the middle-aged man’s assessment of him.
[人不可貌相，海水不可斗量 (rén bù kě mào xiàng, hǎi shuǐ bù kě dǒu liáng): lit. Never judge a person by their appearance, nor measure the sea with a bucket; fig. Appearances can be deceiving, and true depth cannot be superficially assessed.]
Mu Lichuan advised his grandfather not to leave the house unnecessarily. He had left Xiao Xue behind to guard against any ill-intentioned intruders. "Harbor no intention to harm others, but never let down your guard against harm," he was simply taking precautions.
[害人之心不可有，防人之心不可无 (hài rén zhī xīn bù kě yǒu, fáng rén zhī xīn bù kě wú): lit. Harbor no intention to harm others, but never let down your guard against harm; fig. Be kind but cautious.]
The car wound through the capital’s streets before arriving at an old courtyard house. The moment Mu Lichuan stepped out, he sensed an overwhelming presence, whether it was the aura of a cultivator or an intentional display of intimidation, he couldn’t tell, but it had no effect on him.
Following the middle-aged man inside, he found that while the exterior retained the traditional courtyard house style, the interior had been renovated into a reception hall, fully modernized in every aspect.
An elderly man sat at the head of the hall, flanked by people dressed in various styles, creating a disorderly impression. The moment Mu Lichuan entered, the murmuring crowd turned their gazes toward him.
"Him? Did Zhang Tianshi make a mistake?" A burly man burst into laughter upon seeing Mu Lichuan’s appearance.
"Exactly! He looks like a milk-fed brat. Forget subduing evil entities, he’d probably tremble at the sight of a ghost," added another scruffy middle-aged man.
The crowd buzzed with skepticism, unanimously dismissing Mu Lichuan as a fraud.
Many stood up, ready to leave. They were only here out of respect for Zhang Tianshi, the old Taoist priest. Otherwise, who’d bother? Their kind was already suppressed by "science." If the government found out they were gathering to promote "superstition," they’d end up in jail - hardly worth the trouble.
"Gentlemen, please remain calm. Shouldn’t we judge a person beyond appearances? Never ask about a hero’s origins." Zhang Tianshi, a white-haired elder with a formidable presence, spoke. Clearly a Taoist cultivator, his exact level was unclear to Mu Lichuan. His path seemed different from that of Mu Lichuan’s great-grandfather.
[英雄莫问出处 (yīng xióng mò wèn chū chǔ): lit. Never ask about a hero’s origins; fig. True capability isn’t determined by background.]
At these words, the crowd turned their attention back to Mu Lichuan. "Kid, was it really you who subdued the evil in the haunted house? Lying isn’t a good habit," someone questioned.
Mu Lichuan swept his gaze over them. Though they looked down on him, their eyes held no real malice, just the condescension reserved for the young. "Yes, it was me," he replied calmly. He saw this as an opportunity to infiltrate their circle and understand its workings.
"Then… how did you do it?" Many doubted him, finding it impossible that someone so young could have handled the haunted house.
They all had some knowledge of Taoist arts, though perhaps exaggerated. They understood feng shui and knew what forces were best left untouched, which were lessons learned through hard experience. Mu Lichuan’s youth made his claims unbelievable.
The question amused Mu Lichuan. "With my hands, of course. What else?" His tone carried a hint of smugness.
The moment he said this, the crowd deemed him utterly unreliable. "Old Taoist, we have better things to do than waste time on this," one man declared before walking out, clearly displeased.
"Same here. I’ve got a chess game waiting," another elder added. They felt they’d given Mu Lichuan a chance, but the boy’s arrogance and disregard for their opinions were intolerable.
Even Zhang Tianshi wondered, if the boy truly had skill, why speak in such a misleading way? Claiming to have done it "with his hands" sounded like mockery.
Mu Lichuan blinked, finding them too impatient. Such impulsiveness served no one. The group’s lack of discipline made them vulnerable to exploitation by outsiders.
"Young man, we’re all just curious about how you handled the evil entity. Your attitude is… disappointing," someone said regretfully. "Perhaps you should return to school and learn some respect." If he truly had ability, he wouldn’t act so dismissively, and vice versa.
"Disrespectful? You’re the ones who judged me as frivolous and boastful the moment you saw my face. I never knew ‘experienced’ people like you were so shallow," Mu Lichuan retorted mockingly. To him, they were a disorganized bunch - hard to unite. Better to intimidate them into submission from the start.
His words halted those who had begun leaving. Their faces darkened with anger. A young man’s arrogance was one thing, but challenging their authority was unacceptable.
"Since you claim to have skills, why not demonstrate them?" Their tone had shifted entirely, hostility now evident.
Though the government viewed them as promoters of feudal superstition, their clients treated them with reverence, inflating their egos, some even developing a severe "princess complex."
Mu Lichuan nodded. "Let’s move to the courtyard. I wouldn’t want anyone getting hurt."
The group gathered outside, some eager to see his abilities, others gleefully anticipating his failure. If he couldn’t impress, Zhang Tianshi’s influence would wane, creating an opening for a new leader.
Standing in the center, Mu Lichuan pulled a fire talisman from his pocket and hurled it at a tree. Instantly, sparks crackled, and flames engulfed the entire tree.
"Sh*t!"
"It’s on fire!"
Before they could react, the courtyard gate burst open. A man led a group of police inside. "Officers, these are the ones spreading feudal superstition early in the morning! Look, they’re even destroying public property!"
"Everyone, to the station!" Before Mu Lichuan could respond, the police were already shouting. The burning tree was swiftly extinguished by none other than Zhang Tianshi, wielding a fire extinguisher.
"Officers, we were just demonstrating fire safety to the youth," Zhang Tianshi explained with a smile, his beard slightly singed and face smudged with soot.
Mu Lichuan, aware of the fire talisman’s power, understood the old man’s quick action.
"Again? Last time it was recruiting youngsters for ghost stories," the lead officer said sternly. "Everyone, come with us. You can explain at the station."
Mu Lichuan watched as the once-haughty group now hung their heads like wilted eggplants.
"Kid, you alright? Shame on you all, preying on a middle schooler?" The middle-aged officer’s tone was severe. Mu Lichuan’s appearance was too convincing.
"Human trafficking?" Mu Lichuan blinked. He had become the victim in the officers’ eyes. Considering his age, it made sense.
"Don’t be scared. This time, we’ll make sure their families keep a closer eye on them. Targeting the nation’s youth? Unforgivable!" The officer’s expression was grave.
The crowd stared at Mu Lichuan as if seeing a ghost. The shock he had given them hadn’t worn off, yet now his face had won over the police. The disparity in treatment was staggering. Some even wondered if they, too, could learn to make themselves look so convincingly young.
"Master, how did you change your face? Can you teach us?" one naive enthusiast asked, eyes shining with admiration.
Mu Lichuan’s lip twitched. "This is my real face." But to a room full of superstitious believers, his words held no credibility.
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