Chapter 47: Who Are You Trying to Scare?

Chapter 47: Who Are You Trying to Scare?

Chen Xian asked in confusion, “What?”

“Planchette Writing, that’s a term from Qimen Divination. To put it simply, it’s like those tricks that are popular among folks, such as fortune-telling or summoning evil spirits,” Su Chunfeng explained briefly. Then, he waved his hand with a dignified manner and said, “But you don’t need to worry. Those lowly evil things absolutely wouldn’t dare to enter your home. Even if they’re outside, they won’t cause my aunt much harm. After all, she often comes home to see you, doesn’t she?”

Chen Xian nodded. A hint of helpless sorrow flashed across his expression. Of course, he wouldn’t tell Su Chunfeng, an unfamiliar junior, about his daughter’s divorce.

After thinking for a moment, Chen Xian asked, “Could you help her prevent such incidents?”

“I can’t.”

“Who can?”

“I don’t know…”

“What about your master?” Chen Xian frowned, looking displeased.

Su Chunfeng was taken aback. He ignored Chen Xian’s slightly angry expression and sighed helplessly. “It was during the winter when I was in seventh grade. I was playing outside at night and ran into him by chance. I don’t know how he did it, but he imprinted some things into my mind. Later, he spoke to me briefly and then left. I never saw him again. Honestly, I’m not skilled in this area, and I’ve never tried to do anything. Just now, when I saw my aunt, I was so scared that I instinctively used the esoteric technique to defend against it.”

Such a far-fetched and mystical explanation naturally couldn’t make Chen Xian believe it, but he didn’t dwell on it. Instead, he said, “Do you know any other experts in this field?”

Su Chunfeng shook his head. “Actually, even now, I’m still half-believing, half-skeptical about this kind of thing.”

“Oh?” Chen Xian smiled. “Then what do you think about what you saw before, and the evil thing on your aunt when she entered just now?”

“I don’t know.” Su Chunfeng looked very honest. “If you believe it, it exists. If you don’t, it doesn’t.”

Chen Xian nodded slightly. He poured himself a cup of cold tea and took a small sip, speaking as if casually. “In a few years, I’ll be retiring… With nothing to do in old age, I’ve become a bit curious about metaphysics and things like the I Ching. Child, I want to ask you, if a person has bad luck, how can they use metaphysical knowledge—um, you call it Esoteric Technique, right? How can they get rid of misfortune and turn danger into safety?”

“I really don’t know about that.” Su Chunfeng said with a pained smile. “What little I know is just some heretical methods for driving away evil and suppressing negative forces. It has nothing to do with luck at all.”

“Oh.” Chen Xian wasn’t angry. He continued, “Then, as you said, would those evil things affect a person, and even the luck of their family and loved ones?”

“That, maybe?” Su Chunfeng pretended to only half-understand. “After all, those things belong to the Yin and carry negative forces. If Yin and Yang clash, even if it doesn’t cause much physical harm, it might affect a person’s vitality and their own emotions. So, it’s best to avoid it whenever possible.”

Chen Xian nodded thoughtfully. “Could you tell me these secret arts that you know?”

Su Chunfeng shook his head and smiled. “No.”

“Tell me. I promise I won’t spread it.” Chen Xian said seriously and sincerely.

“I can’t…” Su Chunfeng sighed. “That night, my master told me that secret arts are called secret arts precisely because they contain many unknown mysteries. If they could be casually spread around, there wouldn’t have been so many incredibly profound techniques lost throughout history. Besides, recklessly spreading secret arts can bring fatal danger to oneself!” Su Chunfeng pointed at the ceiling, speaking mysteriously. “So, for over two years, I haven’t even dared to tell my parents, Grandfather. Since you could tell at a glance that I used a secret art before, I guess you know these rules, more or less?”

Being so directly refused by a young teenager, and a junior at that, with a slightly lecturing tone, made Chen Xian quite angry. His official authority suddenly surged, bringing a strange pressure to those around. His expression turned cold and stern as he said calmly, “Although you are still young, from the way you speak, I think you should be a reasonable child.”

Su Chunfeng smiled without speaking, looking at Chen Xian with neither arrogance nor humility—with his mature mind and experience in the dangerous Jianghu of Esoteric Arts, how could he be easily intimidated by Chen Xian’s presence?

“Tell me, and I can arrange a very good future for you, as well as for your parents and younger brother. I can have your whole family settle in Pingyang City as citizens, living a much better life than now, so you won’t have to farm in the countryside anymore.” As Chen Xian said this, his calm and composed manner truly revealed the confidence and dominance of a powerful figure—what seemed extremely difficult to ordinary people was nothing but a simple matter for him.

Su Chunfeng lowered his eyelids and shook his head.

Chen Xian’s voice immediately turned cold and stern. “Child, you’re still young after all. Don’t be too unreasonable… As a junior high student, secretly learning metaphysical secret arts—if others find out, the consequences could be very severe. Even your parents and younger brother might be implicated.”

Hearing this, Su Chunfeng immediately flared up!

He hated being threatened the most, especially when someone dared to use his parents and loved ones to threaten him.

Although he couldn’t understand what could have driven such an important figure like Chen Xian into a corner, forcing him to say such inappropriate words to a young teenager, Su Chunfeng felt no sympathy for him at all. He stood up immediately and sneered, “Third Maternal Grandfather, although you hold a high position and great power, you still don’t understand some fields well enough! I treated you as an elder and was honest with you today, but you respond with harsh words…” At this point, Su Chunfeng pressed his hands on the round table, leaned closer to Chen Xian, and grinned cheerfully. “I’ll just have to be a bit more honest and tell you some more. Your official authority and aura can protect yourself, but they’re not all-powerful! It was very wrong of you to say these things to me at this moment, especially since we’re in your home. So, I had to do a little something, just in case. If you go back on your word and reveal my matters, then I’ll have no choice but to fight to the death and use secret arts in retaliation.”

“How dare you! Are you threatening me?” Chen Xian said angrily.

“Don’t get angry.” Su Chunfeng laughed. “Believe it or not, it’s up to you. Maybe as the old saying goes, if you believe it, it exists; if you don’t, it doesn’t. You have such impressive official authority. If you truly have a clear conscience, what is there to fear?”

With that, Su Chunfeng, with a smile on his face, turned around and walked boldly to the door. He pulled it open and went out.

On the balcony, Chen Xian sat with a gloomy expression, looking at the open study door—he never expected that a teenager of only fifteen or sixteen years old would show no fear under his imposing presence. Instead, the child aggressively and fiercely fought back, threatening and intimidating him!

Was it youthful recklessness?

Or was he just bold because of his skills?

Even Chen Xian, who had navigated military life and official struggles for years with ease and success, was now puzzled. This child from Xiulan’s family was truly unusual.

Wait…

Chen Xian suddenly stood up. He remembered what Su Chunfeng had just said: “especially since we’re in your home. So, I had to do a little something, just in case,” and that last sentence, “If you truly have a clear conscience, what is there to fear?”

What could he have done?

Chen Xian strode outside, but his expression quickly returned to calmness, with a slight, amiable smile. He walked into the living room and sat down gracefully, as if nothing had happened. “Xiulan, Su Cheng, you’ve raised a fine son. That child Chunfeng is sure to achieve great things in the future!”

“You flatter him too much, sir. We’re just content if he doesn’t cause any trouble for the family.” Su Cheng said humbly.

It was rare for their usually aloof high-ranking official uncle to show such a friendly attitude. Chen Xiulan was happy but also a bit embarrassed as she smiled. “Please don’t praise him. This child becomes proud easily.”

Su Chunfeng sat on the sofa with a simple, honest look. A faint blush appeared on his fair little face.

“Oh my, this child is so shy!” Jiang Ruying laughed heartily beside him, seeming to like Su Chunfeng very much. In fact, she only noticed that her husband’s attitude toward this family was unusual today, so she naturally showed a warm and friendly manner.

With Jiang Ruying leading the way, the living room soon filled with continuous laughter and cheerful conversation.

Only Chen Yufang, staying in her bedroom reading, felt extremely uncomfortable—what was wrong with her parents today? They were just poor relatives from the countryside. Did they have to be so hospitable? They even invited them to stay for lunch!

Lunch was lavish, with five dishes and a soup, along with rice, all prepared and delivered from a restaurant outside.

Chen Xian even specifically opened a bottle of Maotai wine and had Su Cheng drink a little.

For Su Cheng and his wife, this was beyond their expectations. Being so warmly entertained by their high-ranking official uncle was a rare occurrence. How could they not be happy and excited?

Su Chunyu was young and didn’t understand adult matters. As long as he could eat and drink well and the adults didn’t give him angry looks, he was happy. As for Su Chunfeng, he had long been used to wearing a mask, presenting himself as a good, honest, and simple child. When adults asked him something, he would answer honestly and even blush a little.

Seeing this family of four’s flustered, excited, and awkward manner, as if they had never experienced such treatment before, Chen Yufang felt even more disgusted. Before she had even finished half her meal, she got up with a stern face, went back to her bedroom to dress up, and stomped out.

After the meal, Su Cheng’s family felt embarrassed to impose any longer. After sitting for a short while, they stood up to say goodbye.

Chen Xian and Jiang Ruying politely urged them to stay a few more times but didn’t say much beyond that. However, this time, Jiang Ruying followed her husband Chen Xian and, braving the cold, accompanied their relatives downstairs. Standing outside the building, she waved goodbye reluctantly. “Come visit often when you have time…”

After the family of four walked away, Chen Xian couldn’t help but catch up and call Su Chunfeng aside. “What did you do in my home?”

“Grandfather, our family won’t ask for your help with anything, so you can rest assured.” Su Chunfeng said with a cheerful smile. “You be well, I be well, everyone be well… Also, a kind reminder: as long as you uphold integrity and righteousness, evil naturally won’t invade you, and you can turn danger into safety.”

With that, Su Chunfeng turned and left.