Chapter 22 [Chen Yan's Caution]
Chen Yan thought for a moment and asked, "Has President Fang encountered any strange people recently? Or come into contact with any peculiar items?"
President Fang contemplated seriously, "Actually, no... To be honest, there was another expert before. Ah, it's Uncle Qing from Luoyun House, you should have met him too.
I had him check for me, and he asked me the same question as you did. I thought several times back then and found nothing suspicious."
Uncle Qing? That guy is a fraud...
Chen Yan snickered inwardly but did not say anything.
He remembered the rules his old grandma mentioned during casual talks when he was a child: In this mysterious profession, there are bound to be many frauds.
But the practice is to see through but not expose.
First, in many bizarre cases, even if someone can't handle it well, it doesn't necessarily mean they are a fraud; they might just lack sufficient Tao practice or specialized skills.
Secondly, it's simple, if you expose them, you break their rice bowl and make enemies.
Chen Yan continued to ask, "President Fang, where do you usually go?"
"It's hard to say for the long term. Recently, I mostly stay in the company, occasionally go home," President Fang thought while replying, "Hmm... since there have been some issues at home, I go home less. Most of the time, I stay in the office. Like before the incident this time, I had stayed in the office for two days."
Chen Yan nodded, "Let's check your office first. If nothing comes up, we might need to visit your home. Would that be convenient?"
"Absolutely! I'll have Assistant Yan accompany you to my office! If needed, he can take you to my home too!"
After speaking, President Fang shouted, "Xiaoyan!!"
Assistant Yan quickly came in; he must have been waiting outside.
He acted thoughtfully, holding a cup of hot tea from who knows where, handing it over to Chen Yan with both hands after coming in.
"Xiaoyan, please take Teacher Chen to our company to have a look in a bit."
"Sure!"
Chen Yan immediately put down the tea cup, "No need to wait; let's go now."
"Ah?"
President Fang was startled and, seeing Chen Yan standing up, suddenly felt a bit uneasy, "Well, Teacher Chen..."
"Is there anything else, President Fang?"
"I have another small request," President Fang hesitated for a moment, then sighed, "To be honest, I'm genuinely scared! With you gone, who knows how long it might take... and handling this matter could be lengthy.
I'm thinking, in the meantime, if something unfortunate happens to me..."
Chen Yan's heart stirred, "What do you mean, President Fang?"
"The protective talisman jade token you gave to Assistant Yan, um, that... Can I ask you for one too?"
President Fang witnessed the miraculous jade token himself!
Such a big ceiling fell, and Assistant Yan, standing right in the middle, wasn't even scratched!
A jade token?
Chen Yan was willing... but he didn't have any at hand!
Initially, he just bought two for experimentation.
One was cracked when he infused it with Primordial Qi.
The remaining one was randomly carved with some runes for dispelling disaster when he was practicing carving, and it had his infused Primordial Qi inside, which is why it was effective.
But now, the other party wanted one, and he didn't have any.
Moreover, Chen Yan knew very well that President Fang didn't need a protective talisman anymore.
He had used his Qi Observation Skill and saw that the black aura surrounding President Fang had dissipated significantly and was still dissipating.
The root of the black aura wasn't on President Fang.
If Chen Yan's judgment was correct, President Fang would be fine as long as he stayed in the hospital and didn't come into contact with the source of the ominous aura again.
"I left in a hurry and didn't bring such items with me." Chen Yan shook his head, feeling a bit regretful.
"Teacher Chen, please help! Although I am lying in the hospital bed, I'm still scared! Without something to protect me, I can't sleep peacefully, I'm afraid to close my eyes!
Teacher Chen, I won't ask for nothing, please give me a protective artifact." President Fang took a deep breath, "I'll pay... a hundred thousand!"
A hundred thousand?
Chen Yan's heart skipped a beat!
Thinking it over... and over...
Suddenly, he glanced at the compass in his hand.
Ah! Got it!
"Alright then," Chen Yan put on a troubled expression, took a deep breath, "President Fang is sincere and we have a destined connection, I can't turn away someone so devoted."
He gently patted the compass, his face showing a slight tinge of reluctance, "This magical artifact has been with me since I started learning, never left my side for a day.
Over time, imbued with some spiritual charm from me, let it be a collectible for President Fang."
President Fang's eyes lit up instantly!
What?!
Been with him since he started learning!
Never left his side for a day!
It must be extraordinary!
President Fang had dealt with many people from the Mystical Sect and knew that the items they carried were carefully selected, treasured for years!
Surely it was imbued with spiritual light!
This young Master Chen gave Assistant Yan a simple jade token, and it worked wonders — President Fang had checked that broken jade token thoroughly, it was of very poor quality.
His personal item must be way better!
"Then, thank you very much for your generosity, Teacher Chen!"
President Fang's face was full of excitement, "Xiaoyan, quickly! Transfer a hundred thousand to Teacher Chen's account!"
Chen Yan pretended to sigh, feeling helpless, but was inwardly delighted.
I didn't tell a single lie!
This compass was indeed with me from the first day I learned Geomancy Skill!
It's just that… you didn't ask how long I've been learning.
Should I really tell you I've been learning for less than twenty days in total?
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Leaving the hospital, sitting in the BMW driven by Assistant Yan, Chen Yan resisted the urge to check the bank notification message.
Acting like a high expert, one must show some depth.
Hmm, that compass I bought for 180 yuan from Taobao, who would have thought it would be worth so much one day?
1
Arriving at President Fang's company, walking into an old commercial building, it was already 10:30 in the morning.
There was no one in President Fang's office — the office ceiling had fallen, and Assistant Yan had notified everyone to take a day off, saying they needed to have the ceiling inspected and repaired.
Walking into the office, Chen Yan began using the Celestial Eye Gaze to observe all the way.
In the external office area, nothing seemed wrong. Walking into President Fang's office, upon stepping through the door, Chen Yan raised an eyebrow!
There was indeed a wisp of black aura inside the office!
Faint, elusive, but it was there, spiraling continuously.
The old gradually dissipated, while new strands emerged one after another.
Chen Yan twitched his nose, then sneezed.
He immediately began silently activating the Primordial Qi Transport Technique, filling his body with Primordial Qi — as he was a new learner, he hadn't mastered many spells, but covering oneself with Primordial Qi was a basic self-defense technique.
Chen Yan's expression remained unchanged as he walked into the room.
The debris on the ground hadn't been cleaned up, and the collapse of the ceiling left the room quite cluttered.
Chen Yan carefully walked to President Fang's desk and glanced at Assistant Yan, "Can you open this desk drawer?"
"I can, I have President Fang's key."
"Then open them all, let me take a look."
The drawers didn't contain anything valuable, just two packs of cigarettes and some personal seals, along with some receipts and paperwork.
These weren't important; Chen Yan took one look and didn't bother further.
Eventually, he took out something from the drawer, revealing a strange look in his eyes.
It was a long paper tube, about the width of a thumb, with an ancient-looking wrapping that had cloud patterns.
Opening the lid, inside was a tube of sandalwood incense.
Thin sticks, neatly lined but with visible gaps, indicating some had been used.
Chen Yan pretended to be casual, smiling as he turned to Assistant Yan, "Sandalwood incense? President Fang is quite the elegant type, I see."
"Yes," Assistant Yan cautiously replied, "The boss believes in mystical arts and likes these sorts of things. Plus, we've heard sandalwood has a calming effect, so he occasionally lights one while having tea."
As he spoke, Assistant Yan pointed, and Chen Yan indeed saw a small incense burner on a cabinet.
"Hmm."
Chen Yan didn't say anything, casually setting down the sandalwood tube, then intentionally picking up a few other items on the table, pretending to inspect them seriously.
Paperweights, golden toads...
He examined each one.
Finally, he coughed, "Thirsty, Assistant Yan, is there any water here?"
"Yes! But due to the ceiling collapse, I had the power cut off, so I can't boil water for tea. We have bottled water, would that be alright?"
Chen Yan hesitated intentionally, "Any cola?"
"Uh?" Assistant Yan thought, high experts are different. Before, all the masters the boss hosted preferred various kinds of tea, always the best and most expensive.
This one likes cola.
"There's a vending machine downstairs, I'll get you one! Please wait."
Chen Yan pretended to refuse politely, but Assistant Yan quickly left.
Once Assistant Yan was gone, Chen Yan's courteous smile disappeared.
Chen Yan picked up the sandalwood tube again, drew out a stick, and sniffed it.
It smelled like ordinary sandalwood.
But with Primordial Qi in his body, Chen Yan's senses were heightened, particularly sensitive to Primordial Qi and sinister influences.
(This seems like... a trace of resentment?)
Thinking for a moment, Chen Yan went to the external office area, grabbed A4 paper from a printer tray, and returned to President Fang's office.
Wrapping one sandalwood stick in an A4 sheet, he placed it in his pocket. Then, he retrieved the incense burner from the cabinet.
The incense burner was fine, made of yellow brass, heavy in hand.
It contained some leftover incense ash. Chen Yan pinched a bit, rubbed it between his fingers, then poured some more ash onto an A4 sheet on the table, wrapped it up, and pocketed it.
With everything done, Chen Yan carefully scanned the room to ensure he left no traces, then casually returned to the outer office.
After a few minutes, Assistant Yan came back with the cola. Chen Yan comfortably opened it, took a few sips, then smiled, "Nothing more, let's go."
"Um... did you find anything?" Assistant Yan asked cautiously.
"Not yet," Chen Yan shook his head, "I need to think and calculate more."
"Shall I take you to President Fang's home?"
Chen Yan purposely checked his phone for the time, "Let's leave it for today, it's already noon, and I still need to practice in the afternoon. My Heart Method requires daily practice at fixed times.
As for President Fang's home..."
Chen Yan deliberately smiled, "I sold my compass to your boss, and for visiting the house, I need to use geomancy skills to check the feng shui. It's inconvenient to go empty-handed.
In a couple of days, I'll arrange for a new compass magical artifact, then go to President Fang's house."
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