Volume One, Chapter Seventeen: Chen Qifan, the Paragon of Filial Piety

In a café near Liuhe Road, Chen Qifan finished his entire cup of coffee and raised his hand to signal the waiter for a refill.

"Once we finish this meal, let's part ways," he said.

Chu Fangfei, with a mouthful of cake yet to swallow, mumbled, "No way. Our task isn't done yet. We can't leave."

Chen Qifan sighed deeply, feeling as though he could never reason with her.

Chi Xingwan drank the last sip of her milk tea and stood up. "Let's go. That’s enough."

Chu Fangfei and Jin Feng perked up immediately, each taking a side to lift Chen Qifan.

"Come on, let's go to your house."

Arriving once again at the gates of the Chen family mansion, not only Chi Xingwan but also Jin Feng and Chu Fangfei sensed that the dark aura enveloping the house had grown much thicker since earlier.

Chi Xingwan grabbed Daidai from her shoulder and shoved it into Chen Qifan’s arms.

She turned to Jin Feng and Chu Fangfei. "You two, protect them. Is that a problem?"

"No problem," they answered.

"Good." Chi Xingwan gestured to Chen Qifan. "Open the door."

"We’re late. It’s quiet inside. They must have left already," Chen Qifan complained as he dug out his keys.

"Huh? Why won’t the door budge?"

A layer of dark energy clung to the bronze door, welding it shut so tightly that no human strength could move it.

Chi Xingwan traced a line in the air with her finger, sending a surge of spiritual power at the door. The dark energy vanished instantly.

Jin Feng and Chu Fangfei were dumbstruck.

"Boss, you’re amazing."

"Boss, can you teach me? Forget it—I probably can't learn anyway."

Chen Qifan was baffled. "What are you talking about?"

"Never mind. Just follow us," Chi Xingwan said, pushing the door open and entering first.

Chen Qifan, holding Daidai, followed behind.

Outside, the sun blazed. Yet inside, the house was pitch black, with an eerie wind occasionally sweeping through.

Chen Qifan hunched his shoulders. "When did they switch to black curtains?"

Jin Feng whispered to Chu Fangfei, "Junior sister, next time you take a commission, pick a client with a sharper mind."

Chu Fangfei muttered, "How was I supposed to know he was so dumb?"

---

Chen Qifan glared at the pair. "If you keep saying that, I'll revoke the commission and withhold the payment... Ah!"

He hadn’t finished speaking when his peripheral vision caught sight of the scene before him, nearly making him collapse in fright.

In the hall, Master Wuchen and the three members of the Chen family hung suspended in midair, each with a deathly pale face.

"What the hell is this!"

Chen Qifan shrank behind Chu Fangfei, but perhaps she was too short to shield him, so he darted behind Jin Feng instead.

"They—they’re floating in midair! What kind of joke is this, magic?"

Chu Fangfei rolled her eyes. "Brother, are you still trying to make excuses for yourself at a time like this? Isn’t it obvious why they’re like that? Your house is haunted."

Chen Qifan’s teeth chattered. "Are they... are they dead?"

"Not yet," Chi Xingwan replied, "but soon."

"Then we came too early," Chen Qifan blurted out.

Chu Fangfei and Jin Feng glanced at him.

Forgetting his fear, Chen Qifan spoke with righteous indignation, "One’s a scumbag, one’s a mistress, one’s an illegitimate child—they drove my mother away. Am I supposed to treat them like family?"

"Why didn’t you leave with your mother, then?" Chu Fangfei asked curiously.

Chen Qifan gritted his teeth. "As soon as I get the Chen family’s assets, I’ll go find her."

Chu Fangfei gave him a thumbs up. "Ambitious."

Chi Xingwan interrupted, "Enough. Be quiet. I’m going to bring them down."

Chen Qifan immediately shut his mouth, hugging Daidai and standing behind Jin Feng.

Chu Fangfei watched Chi Xingwan closely. To ordinary eyes, the four people floated unsupported in the air.

But to the eyes of a spiritual practitioner, their limbs were wrapped in threads of dark energy—it was these threads that suspended them.

These threads were not easy to deal with. At least, Chu Fangfei knew she had no solution.

Jin Feng was worried as well. He could disperse the threads, but it would cost him dearly, leaving him helpless against whatever else lurked in the house.

No wonder it was an A-grade mission.

He glanced at Chi Xingwan. But for a super A-grade spiritual practitioner, perhaps it was no trouble.

Chi Xingwan pulled the wooden hairpin from her head, wielding it like a sword. In an instant, she infused it with a powerful surge of pure spiritual energy.

"That’s incredible..." Chu Fangfei watched in awe.

"No wonder she’s a super A-grade spiritual practitioner," Jin Feng echoed.

---

Chi Xingwan flicked her hand, splitting the spiritual energy on the hairpin into several sword-like beams that struck the threads binding the four.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

The four dropped from midair. Though the fall wasn’t far, it was rough enough to jolt them awake.

Chen Qifan’s expression changed instantly. He rushed forward, sobbing with snot and tears. "Dad, are you alright? Are you okay?"

Father Chen clutched his waist, his face twisted in pain. Upon seeing Chen Qifan, his first words were, "There are ghosts, Qifan! Get me out of here!"

"Got it, Dad," Chen Qifan replied immediately.

He lifted his father’s upper body and dragged him across the floor, pretending to struggle, "Dad, you really need to lose some weight."

Father Chen’s hips and legs burned with pain, but the terrifying image of Master Wuchen made him too scared to stop Chen Qifan.

Daidai seized the chance to cause trouble, its claws tugging at Father Chen’s hair and clothes. In no time, Father Chen looked as disheveled as a vagrant.

Chu Fangfei and Jin Feng stared in astonishment. It was their first time witnessing such a "filial son," and they couldn’t help but be amazed.

Chen Qifan dragged his father to Chi Xingwan’s side. "Sister-in-law, let’s get out of here."

As he spoke, the sound of women sobbing echoed from all directions.

Chen Xin screamed, rushing toward Chi Xingwan and the others, trying to wedge himself among them. His stepmother and Master Wuchen followed a moment later, also scrambling over.

"Vengeful ghost! It’s a vengeful ghost—so fierce!" Master Wuchen stammered, lips trembling.

Chen Xin asked urgently, "Master Wuchen, what should we do now?"

Jin Feng mocked, "He’s just a charlatan, not even an apprentice. What could he possibly do?"

Chen Xin refused to be outdone, retorting immediately, "Master Wuchen is a true expert. Who are you, a thug, to pass judgment?"

"Oh, he’s an expert? Then why were you four neatly hung up together?"

Chen Xin’s face flushed red. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Master Wuchen pulling out talismans and a peach wood sword. Hope sparked in his heart. "Look! Master Wuchen is about to cast a spell. Dad, we’ll be saved soon!"

The three members of the Chen family looked at Master Wuchen expectantly.

Master Wuchen bit his tongue, spitting a mouthful of blood onto the talisman-wrapped peach wood sword. Instantly, spiritual energy surged, enveloping him.

He charged at the bronze door, flung it open, and fled outside in a frenzy.

The door slammed shut behind him, leaving the three Chen family members staring at each other in disbelief.