Volume One, Chapter Fifteen: The Allure of Wealthy Men

Even after getting into the car, Qin Yu still hadn't recovered from her shock. Who would have guessed that the wealthy man who just appeared in her livestream was now standing before her, acting as her driver? Watching his well-defined fingers skillfully maneuver the steering wheel, Qin Yu mused silently: Are rich people nowadays so idle that they moonlight as rideshare drivers?

Her gaze drifted to the aura of menace that seemed to radiate from the man at all times, and her lips twitched. This aura was definitely not something ordinary people could handle.

"Have you stared enough?"

His voice was cold and sharp, throwing the words at her like ice, and in the rearview mirror, his gaze was as if he were looking at the dead. With his hostility, the thin, shadowy black mist around him suddenly swelled.

Qin Yu furrowed her brows; her delicate features scrunched together like a freshly steamed bun, soft and white. "Sir, the world is so beautiful—why are you so irritable?"

Lu Jinyuan shot her a sidelong glance but said nothing.

A buzzing sound lit up Lu Jinyuan's phone.

Lu Hualing: "Little uncle, did you pick her up?"

Lu Jinyuan's eyelid gave a subtle twitch.

Having waited a long time without a reply, Lu Hualing's handsome face was twisted in worry as he packed his things and made a call to explain his "aftermath." "Grandfather, I have something to attend to abroad, I won't be back for a while. Don’t miss me too much, sob sob..."

—

By the time Qin Yu arrived at her destination, the sunset was already painting her shoulders in gold. As she stepped out of the car, the man behind her asked, "Do you need me to wait for you?"

Even Lu Jinyuan himself was surprised as the words left his mouth. Since when had he become so considerate?

Qin Yu was a little taken aback, apparently not expecting him to offer to wait. The place was remote and night was falling—it would indeed be difficult to hail a cab.

She curved her lips into a smile, revealing a row of small, white teeth, obedient and charming. "Thank you, sir, that's very kind of you!"

Remembering something, she frowned and turned back. "I won’t let you wait for nothing."

"Give me your hand."

Perhaps because Qin Yu seemed so harmless and meek at that moment, like a gentle little rabbit, Lu Jinyuan handed her his hand almost instinctively.

A touch of spiritual energy poured from her fingertips as she drew something in his palm, stroke by stroke. With each movement, Lu Jinyuan felt the weight on his body being peeled away, layer by layer.

The girl was focused on her work, entirely unaware of his lingering gaze upon her—

Porcelain skin, a delicate oval face, round deer-like eyes, a petite nose, lips as red as cherry blossoms, dressed in an ink-painted traditional dress. She stood in the sunset, bathed in light...

When the warding talisman was complete, Lu Jinyuan felt lighter than ever, even his breathing seemed easier. A flicker of surprise and joy shone in his deep, pool-like eyes.

But Qin Yu was even happier. She hadn't expected her very first attempt at drawing the talisman to succeed! She had only ever seen warding talismans in books, never having the opportunity to practice. Lu Jinyuan's arrival had given her just that chance.

A sheen of sweat formed on her brow, her lips pale. Meeting Lu Jinyuan's puzzled gaze, she spoke calmly and evenly, "Cultivators are wary of karmic ties. Today you helped me, so this warding talisman is my way of returning the favor."

At her words, she immediately saw a trace of respect on Lu Jinyuan's face. He clasped his hands together in a formal salute, his expression sincere. "Thank you, Master."

Receiving Lu Jinyuan's faith, Qin Yu felt her cultivation level suddenly leap, even surpassing what she had gathered in her livestream over the past few days.

Her eyes lit up. As expected, a man blessed by the Purple Star’s heart, even his faith was several times that of ordinary people.

Qin Yu’s gaze shifted to Lu Jinyuan as if he were a coveted treasure: she might have discovered a shortcut to increase her cultivation.

After Qin Yu left, Lu Jinyuan stared in disbelief at his palm, where threads of golden light shimmered warmly, bringing him immense comfort.

When he first heard that his father was listening to Lu Hualing’s nonsense and seeking guidance online, he had been repulsed—especially upon seeing that the so-called master in the livestream was a girl barely twenty years old. His aversion reached its peak, and he had hung up the video call.

But now, he was forced to reconsider his opinion of her.

Glancing at the unread message from Lu Hualing, Lu Jinyuan reached for his phone.

Lu Jinyuan: "Please recommend the master’s livestream to me."

—

Qin Yu walked through the twilight, her feet sinking into soft earth, the scent of grass after rain at her nose, the chorus of summer cicadas in her ears—a scene beautiful as poetry.

She clipped her phone to her chest and started the livestream.

Beautiful Life, waiting by her phone, recognized the familiar rural setting in Qin Yu’s stream and immediately got up to welcome her.

"Master!"

From a distance, Qin Yu heard the call, looked up, and saw a plump middle-aged man running toward her.

"Master, you’re finally here!"

The man wept with joy, for he knew his daughter could now be saved.

"How heartbreaking it is to be a parent!"

"My wife is gorgeous today! Another day dazzled by her beauty!"

"Master Siqiu, please, you must save his daughter!"

The man was a farmer, and to reach his home, one had to cross a stretch of farmland.

Though it was already evening, after the midday heat, the earth felt like a steamer fresh from the stove—oppressive and stifling. It was the busy season, and many people were still working in the fields.

Seeing the man bring a stranger, someone in the field looked up. "Old Li, weren’t you picking up the master? Why did you bring back a little girl? Is she Yue’er’s classmate?"

"This is the master I invited!"

"Master? But this girl looks no older than Yue’er. Old Li, have you been duped?"

"I think so too. She doesn’t look nearly as reliable as Master Huang who came last time!"

"Old Li, don’t let desperation cloud your judgment! If it doesn’t work out, we can invite someone from Qingfeng Temple—even if it costs more, it’s worth it as long as it gets the job done."

"..."

Everyone chimed in with their advice.

Old Li hesitated. The thirty thousand yuan was money he had saved for Yue’er’s university. If he’d been scammed...

Despite his doubts, Old Li maintained a calm demeanor, stealing a glance at Qin Yu’s youthful face, suspicion lurking in his heart.

Qin Yu showed no irritation at their skepticism. Instead, she looked openly at Old Li’s sun-darkened face and said, "If I fail, I won’t take a single cent."

Old Li breathed a sigh of relief at her words.

The crowd had never seen such a bold guarantee and wondered whether Qin Yu was truly capable or just boasting. Those who had finished their work followed Old Li home out of curiosity.

"These bumpkins have never seen the world, doubting Master Siqiu!"

"???"

"What’s wrong with country folk? Everything you eat, wear, and use comes from them! If you look down on them, try living without their produce!"

"Don’t get upset over people like this."

"Thirty thousand yuan probably took them years to save. It’s natural to be cautious. Don’t think I won’t call you out just because you’re a fan of the master!"

"That’s just fan talk—don’t drag my wife into it!"

"If there are fans with poor values, it says a lot about the streamer—bad apples don’t fall far from the tree."

"Exactly, I’m switching from fan to casual viewer."

"Take your time leaving. Our master doesn’t need brainless fans like you."

"..."

The heat was oppressive, and just walking left Qin Yu drenched in sweat. She hadn’t paid attention to the livestream chat. Only when she arrived at Old Li’s house did she notice the barrage heating up, escalating into a rural-versus-urban argument.