His Lifespan Was Running Out—Madam, Resign Yourself!

Chu Xuan did not even look up as he wolfed down his food. "No, I just feel empty inside."

Su Minghui could not help examining Chu Xuan closely, her eyes brightening with delight. "Now that I look at him, Xuanxuan's complexion is much better than it was yesterday."

Last night, his little face had been deathly pale without a trace of color, yet today, there was actually a faint flush on his cheeks.

Where did that thing go?

Su Leyun was still somewhat puzzled. That little ghost had clung so tightly to Chu Xuan yesterday, yet it was nowhere to be seen today. Still, although the ghost was gone, black qi continued to coil around Chu Xuan. The matter of his fate having been swapped had not changed.

If the root of the problem could not be thoroughly resolved, his condition today could well be called a final flash of vitality.

The others, however, did not think so much about it. Seeing Chu Xuan improve was enough to make them happy.

After breakfast, Father Chu left for the company. Chu Yanxiao pulled Chu Xuan along to play with Su Leyun, while Fu Siwen began chatting with Su Minghui.

"After what you said last night, I felt I couldn't just give up like this either. So early this morning, I asked a few more friends. They recommended a highly skilled master, and he'll be arriving at the house soon."

"Really?" Su Minghui was happy for her too. "I hope this master can work miracles and help your Xuanxuan recover soon!"

After all, there were only a few days left until Chu Xuan's birthday. Su Minghui felt as though she were staring at a ticking time bomb but could not tell anyone about it. She could only hope that the bomb would be defused as soon as possible.

At nine o'clock, the expert Fu Siwen had hired arrived.

Fu Siwen hurried out to greet him, with Su Minghui following along.

There were three of them in total. The one in front wore a long robe, with grizzled hair and a beard that seemed even more abundant than his hair. Two young-looking disciples followed behind him, making him the very image of a stereotypical master.

"This one really looks impressive," Su Minghui whispered into Fu Siwen's ear.

Perhaps because she had been through too much, Fu Siwen was far calmer now. "Every master I've met looked like this. Whether he's any good depends on his abilities."

She stepped forward with a smile to welcome them. "Master, thank you for making the trip."

Before the master could speak, the young disciple behind him answered first. "My master normally cultivates in the mountains. Even if people paid three visits to his humble abode, it would be difficult to persuade him to come down. He only made this trip today out of respect for Madam."

When her friend had recommended him, they had said this master had recently become very popular within their circle. He had practiced mystical arts since childhood, was well versed in metaphysical techniques, and was the last disciple of a renowned Chinese master of metaphysics. Everyone who had sought him out claimed he was even more efficacious than the bodhisattvas in temples.

Fu Siwen smiled. "Rest assured, little master. If you can solve my troubles, I certainly won't let you come down from the mountain for nothing."

Only then did the master speak. "I came today because I share an affinity with Madam. Let us not speak of anything else."

He picked up a compass and paced several circles around the living room. His two disciples also sat down cross-legged where they stood and began chanting scriptures.

"The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Dwellings says: 'When the land is good, seedlings flourish; when the dwelling is auspicious, people prosper.' Madam Chu's home has exceptionally favorable feng shui. By all rights, wealth should pour in and the family should flourish."

Fu Siwen had heard that countless times. The Chu Family had been wealthy for centuries, and their ancestors had all been particular people. The feng shui of the old residence naturally could not be bad.

"However, when I entered just now, I discovered dark clouds shrouding the skies above this residence. There should be malevolent ghosts causing trouble."

That was exactly what Leyun had said. It seemed Fu Siwen had finally hired a real master this time!

Suppressing her excitement, Su Minghui asked, "Then in your esteemed opinion, Master, where does the problem lie?"

The master focused intently on the compass in his hand. After the needle spun several times, it finally stopped in one direction. His tone turned decisive. "Does Madam have a young son currently in his unlucky year? Is that child presently in the southeast?"

Chu Xuan had turned twelve this year, precisely the age considered an unlucky year in folk belief. His room also happened to be in the southeast section of the house. The master had gotten everything right!

Fu Siwen finally grew nervous. "Yes. Is there a problem?"

"The problem lies with this young child. The baleful aura around him is extremely heavy!"

"Then, Master, do you have a way to save my son?"

The master closed his eyes without a word, putting on an unfathomable air. The disciple beside him spoke instead. "My master has exorcised countless demons. A trifling baleful aura is naturally nothing to him. Madam, bring the child out for us to see!"

Thinking the man before her might be able to save her son, Fu Siwen did not take issue with his attitude and went inside to call Chu Xuan.

As soon as Chu Xuan left, Chu Yanxiao insisted on following him. Since last night, he had become very clingy toward his brother, afraid that his brother might truly disappear. Fu Siwen also carried Su Leyun out and handed him to Su Minghui.

Su Leyun immediately noticed the stranger in the living room. Seeing a faint light in his eyes, he thought, Whose disciple is this? How had he been reduced to having only his eyes still usable? Had the arts of the mortal world truly declined to this extent?

The master had already put away his compass and taken talisman paper from his bag, preparing to finish up. But when Chu Xuan stood before him, the talisman paper in his hand suddenly burst into flames out of thin air and turned to ash in an instant.

The master's expression changed drastically. He carefully scrutinized Chu Xuan's face, then took several steps back and abruptly changed his tune. "Madam, please forgive my inability. You should seek someone more capable!"

With that, he turned to leave.

How could Fu Siwen allow that? She chased after him and grabbed hold of him. "Master, how can you know whether you can do it without even trying? The price is negotiable. I definitely won't treat you poorly!"

"This isn't a matter of money!"

The master had not expected that he would ever say those words in his life. Heaven knew how thrilled he had been when the Chu Family contacted him. One job from such a wealthy household would be enough to support him for years!

Now, the master only wanted to leave this place as quickly as possible. But Fu Siwen was too strong, so he could only explain plainly. "This child's life force is fading, and death qi is wrapped around him. He was born with a fate of early death. The fact that he has lived until now is already the bodhisattvas' mercy! His lifespan is now running out, Madam, so resign yourself to it! Stop struggling!"

Every word the master said was like a nail driven into Fu Siwen's heart. She let go helplessly. The master did not even take any money before bolting away as if a vicious ghost were after his life, while his two disciples hurried after him.

Only after they left the Chu Family residence and got into the car did one disciple ask between gasps, "Master, why did we run?"

The other chimed in, "Exactly! Ordinary people haven't opened their heavenly eyes, so they can't see anything anyway. Wouldn't they just believe whatever we said? This is the Chu Family! Master, if you casually performed a few rituals and fooled her with a few words, you could have made a lot of money!"

"Which is more important, money or your life?!" Still shaken, the master smacked each disciple on the head. "What have you been learning from me all this time? It was obvious at a glance that the Chu Family child had his fate swapped by someone. How could we possibly afford to provoke a person like that?"