Chapter 59: The One with National Fortune
"Can it match the value of my life?" Mi Shen looked at the young man, and the gloom in his heart lightened considerably.
Mu Lichuan quickly nodded, then shook his head. "I can't take this." It was clear that the young man before him had narrowly escaped danger, likely due to the jade pendant. Moreover, the thick golden aura suggested it had absorbed human energy.
Although possessing this pendant could save his life if he encountered a perilous yin energy, greed would only bring endless trouble.
"You just took this pendant off your neck, didn't you?" Before the young man could respond, Mu Lichuan added, "This jade feels warm to the touch, clearly from long-term contact with body heat."
He dared not carry something imbued with "national fortune." Who knew how he might die because of it?
[National fortune (国运, guó yùn): a nation's metaphysical destiny and prosperity, embodied by certain individuals (e.g., leaders or elites) whose actions influence collective stability, often carrying dragon energy - a divine energy that cultivators avoid disrupting to prevent heavenly punishment or karmic backlash]
Perhaps those in power didn’t believe in "supernatural nonsenses," but as a cultivator, he knew to steer clear of those tied to national fortune. Meddling could disrupt the nation’s fate, and the Heavenly Dao would never spare those who defied it.
He hadn’t understood these things before, but the books Xiao Mo left for him contained extensive knowledge, including the "taboos" of cultivators. Once learned, they were impossible to forget.
"Take it." Mi Shen insisted again.
Damn it! It's not that I don't want it, I just can't it! Mu Lichuan cursed inwardly. "I’m perfectly healthy. You, on the other hand, were haunted by a malicious spirit, and now there’s something sinister in your home. This jade can protect you and save your life." Even if the last part was slightly exaggerated, it held some truth.
"What do you mean?" Mi Shen was no fool. He was sharp—otherwise, he wouldn’t have survived so many assassination attempts.
Mu Lichuan wanted to slap himself, letting his mouth run wildly. Now he was trapped. "Your study itself isn’t the problem. There’s a landscape painting hanging on one of the walls, right?"
In just a few minutes inside, he’d observed the study’s layout. While the arrangement seemed fine, one wall exuded a sinister aura. Combined with the painting he’d seen earlier, the conclusion was obvious.
"Yes, it’s a landscape painting. A gift from my second uncle." Mi Shen’s expression softened slightly at the mention of his uncle, losing some of its usual coldness.
Had Mu Lichuan not lived a previous life, he wouldn’t have noticed the subtle shift. "Then it’s definitely the issue. How about giving me that painting instead? As for the pendant, keep it."
The moment he said it, regret twisted his gut. He had no idea what the painting contained, yet he’d impulsively asked for it. Anyone would think he was scheming for something. In reality, he’d just landed himself in a mess he might not be able to handle.
"This painting was a gift from family. I can’t give it away." All traces of warmth vanished from Mi Shen’s face, replaced by icy detachment.
Mu Lichuan exploded. "You consider them family, but do they feel the same?" He’d seen enough sibling betrayals - brothers turning on each other, one a wolf in sheep’s clothing, ruining the other and seizing everything. He despised such "false" familial bonds.
"Mu Lichuan!" Mi Shen snapped, each word sharp. "I didn’t ask for your opinion on my family." Instantly, he regretted his tone.
Mu Lichuan was young, hardly some ancient monster. His background before arriving in the capital remained a mystery, but it was undeniable that he hid secrets. Yet, as Mi Shen had said, some things defied scientific explanation.
Mu Lichuan paused, took a deep breath, and replied, "I’m just telling you what I see. Whether you believe me is up to you."
"You sensed something wrong because of that painting. Think about it. The ghost attached to you earlier was drawn by the heavy yin energy around you." Beyond that, he couldn’t guess more.
Mi Shen studied him thoughtfully. "I see."
Done with the conversation, Mu Lichuan turned to leave. "It’s late. I should go home before Grandpa worries." He’d left school early, only to waste time here.
"Wait." Mi Shen unexpectedly called out. "Have dinner with me." He held out the pendant again. "Take it. It’ll benefit you." His voice carried a subtle persuasion.
Mu Lichuan refused. "Consider this debt settled. As for dinner, no thanks." Karma was the last thing he needed.
Mi Shen let him go but frowned deeply, as if trying to crush a fly between his brows.
Mu Lichuan felt nothing but irritation. Ever since meeting this "crown prince," misfortune seemed to follow. Just touching him left him numb, and now his belongings were trouble too. Mishandle them, and he’d burn.
"Master, master! You reek of evil energy!" The moment Mu Lichuan stepped into his villa, Xiao Xue piped up. It still guarded the perimeter, though its magic had weakened.
Originally it was a bloodvine spirit, but now existed as a plant spirit. It could absorb soul energy from Mu Lichuan, aiding its growth, which was a fair trade.
Mu Lichuan paused, dropping his bag on the sofa. "You can sense the evil energy on me?"
Aside from the painting, he hadn’t touched anything sinister. So it really was that accursed artwork.
"Yes! It’s thick, stronger than my own blood aura. It’s... terrifying. Stay away from it." Xiao Xue's voice was childlike but deadly serious.
Mu Lichuan laughed bitterly. "Too late." His connection to Mi Shen meant any misfortune befalling the man would rebound onto him.
He regretted ever waking that guy up. Now he was stuck with this mess.
"But... your soul has a faint golden glow. Unless the enemy’s too strong, you’ll likely win." Xiao Xue shifted. "As for me... better if I stay hidden. It’d devour me."
Mu Lichuan’s eye twitched. So all that buildup was just to say it wanted to hide? "Golden glow?" Xiao Mo had never mentioned his soul having gold traces. Had Mi Shen’s influence caused this?
"Yes, dragon energy. It repels evil." Though young, Xiao Xue had inherited memories from its bloodvine ancestors. It just lacked experience, hence its earlier blunder with the suicide instead of a clean kill.
Mu Lichuan wished he hadn’t heard that. Two encounters with Mi Shen, and he’d somehow absorbed his dragon energy, it was unbelievable.
"Did I have dragon energy before?" He clung to hope.
Xiao Xue giggled. "Master, if you did, I wouldn’t have dared resist you when we first met. You must’ve met someone blessed with national fortune." Even as a malevolent entity, it instinctively recognized such things.
Creatures like it avoided those tied to a nation’s fate, or risked annihilation.
"Why?!" Mu Lichuan tugged his hair. He’d refused the pendant! How had this happened? Was it because he’d helped Mi Shen? But he’d saved him before with no effect. His head throbbed in frustration.
"Shouldn’t you be happy? Allying with someone with national fortune is rare." Xiao Xue didn’t understand his distress. Many cultivators coveted such blessings.
"Bad! This guy’s cursed! Can I remove the gold aura?" Mu Lichuan snapped. He was already half-baked in cultivation knowledge. Adding a "national fortune" bearer to the mix was a death sentence.
"Young Master, that gold can’t be removed. Karma’s decided by heaven. Accept it." Xiao Xue grew solemn. "Also... it’s merging with your soul energy." Oops, too much info, master looks ready to explode.
Mu Lichuan felt his future darken. Before he could devise a solution, Mi Shen sent the painting over as an "apology."
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