Two Boundary Mountains was a place said to be teeming with demons and monsters, eventually birthing a great demonic overlord. Of course, these were just baseless myths. Still, the painting was undeniably unsettling.
[Two Boundary Mountains (两界山, Liǎngjiè Shān): A mythical mountain range in Chinese folklore that symbolically (or literally) separates the human world from the realm of demons, ghosts, or supernatural entities, often serving as a dangerous threshold between opposing forces.]
He knew he possessed soul energy. Even when facing powerful "evil spirits" or "cursed objects," he never felt true terror - at most, disgust. But this painting made his hair stand on end. No wonder he’d felt uneasy the moment he entered the villa.
"Young Master Mu, is there something wrong with the painting?" Lao Zhang’s face was full of surprise, though inwardly, he was dismissive. At his age, the boy was already steeped in feudal superstitious. Perhaps the young master was just testing him before sending him to the Reformation Bureau for some "correction."
Currently, the Reformation Bureau didn’t hold many people - only the most stubborn cases were kept for "reeducation." Ordinary folks who repented were quickly released.
Though called the Reformation Bureau, it was more like an asylum. The moment ordinary people entered, they’d be plastered with talismans while the staff muttered incantations about them being "haunted by ghosts," making the whole place feel like a madhouse.
"Let’s check somewhere else," Mu Lichuan said, changing the subject without answering the butler’s question.
He had no ties to the young master. If he claimed the "second uncle" was trying to harm him, no one would believe him. Better to look elsewhere.
The butler assumed the boy simply liked the painting and didn’t press further. After all, the second master was a cheerful man, and without him, the young master would likely have turned out very differently.
Apart from the young master's study, they'd seen everything else, and nothing else had caught their attention.
"The young master doesn’t allow anyone in his study," the butler explained when he saw the boy lingering by the door.
"Alright, let’s—" Before Mu Lichuan could finish, the closed door suddenly swung open, revealing the young master’s cold, stern face.
Mu Lichuan almost wanted to joke, did he owe him millions? Why did every encounter involve either violence or that scowling face?
"You may leave," Mi Shen said to the butler before motioning for Mu Lichuan to enter.
Stepping into the "study," Mu Lichuan felt like he’d entered a library, the scholarly atmosphere was refreshing. The heavy scent of books filled the air. Who would’ve thought this guy had such refined tastes?
"Don’t touch anything without my permission," Mi Shen said coolly.
Mu Lichuan, who had been walking briskly, immediately slowed his steps. "Then why let me in? To show off your massive book collection?" Okay, maybe that's petty, but isn't he supposed to be giving me a gift?
Mi Shen’s lips pressed into a thin line, his eyes unreadable. Seeing his expression, Mu Lichuan quickly backpedaled. "Just kidding! The young master’s study is like a military zone—don’t worry, I won’t mess around." Ugh, I meant to mock him, but somehow my words came out differently.
"Mu Lichuan." Mi Shen’s voice was icy. "Feudal superstition is unacceptable."
Hearing that, Mu Lichuan rolled his eyes. "Then why bring me here?" So he didn’t believe he was a "master" at all, he was just toying with him.
"To set you on the right path," Mi Shen said, sounding annoyed.
Mu Lichuan ignored him and turned to leave. As for the painting, since the young master had been fine all this time, it meant his constitution was strong, perhaps even protected by "dragon energy."
[Dragon energy (龙气, lóng qì): Symbolic of a person destined for greatness or leadership, often associated with emperors in legends.]
He could see dragon energy hovering above the young master's head, though it was faint, likely due to his Yin-Yang Eyes. It was best not to provoke such a person, once entangled, escaping would be difficult.
"What are you doing?" Caught off guard, Mu Lichuan’s wrist was seized, sending a tingling numbness through his body. His eyes turned vigilant as he yanked his hand away.
Mi Shen’s face darkened further at his reaction. "Do you really hate my touch that much?" His tone carried an inexplicable hint of jealousy.
Mu Lichuan was baffled. "Young Master, we’re practically strangers. What’s gotten into you?" Is this guy bipolar or something?
"Sorry, I haven’t been myself lately," Mi Shen said, rubbing his temples with a frustrated expression.
Mu Lichuan understood. Under the influence of evil energy and ghostly aura, his behavior was just erratic. It only proved how strong his fortune was.
Mu Lichuan asked, "Weren't you going to give me a thank-you gift?" but quickly averted his gaze, feeling a twinge of embarrassment at his own entitlement.
Mi Shen nodded, walked to the desk, and took out a box. "Here. This jade nourishes the body. When I was sickly as a child, wearing it helped me recover."
Mu Lichuan’s eyes lit up at the sight of the gleaming silver pendant. The spiritual energy was dense, surrounded by a golden glow that felt incredibly soothing. But… "Are you messing with me?" This thing clearly had an owner.
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