Qing Fen stood before Lin Fei and said respectfully, "Immortal Master, I have failed to discipline my daughter. Please forgive me."
Lin Fei waved a hand. "It's fine. Say what you have to say."
Qing Fen's heart eased. The Immortal Master really hasn't taken it to heart. Only then did he say solemnly, "I've heard about the matter between the Song Family and the Ji Family. If there is anything I can do for you, Immortal Master, please say the word. Everyone in the Qing family will do what little we can."
Lin Fei smiled faintly. "Are you truly willing to go to war with the Song Family? Even if everyone in the Qing family opposes it?"
Qing Fen nodded solemnly. "Through boiling water and raging fire, I would not refuse, even if it meant dying ten thousand deaths."
But after a moment's thought, he gave a bitter smile. "Unfortunately, our Qing family focuses on high-end services. When it comes to supplying new chips, I'm afraid the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."
Seeing Qing Fen's sincerity, Lin Fei felt somewhat moved. He shook his head with a smile. "Don't worry. I have my own arrangements."
Qing Fen looked at him in surprise, then sighed in admiration. "Your powers are vast, Immortal Master. I was worrying too much."
He seemed to think of something, hesitating as though he wanted to speak but held back.
Seeing him like this, Lin Fei could not help chuckling. "You needn't be so reserved. Although I have done your Qing family a favor, your ancestor and I were old acquaintances too. Speak freely."
Joy appeared on Qing Fen's face, and only then did he say, "I do have a presumptuous request! As a branch family that has guarded the Qing Clan for generations, the Bai Clan has always practiced the clan's cultivation arts. Now no one in our Qing family practices ancient martial arts, while experts emerge one after another in the Bai family. They even have the Mother of Ten Thousand Spiders in their possession."
"In the past, before the Bai family harbored disloyal intentions, this was naturally a good thing, since they were the force protecting our main family. But now..."
He let out a heavy sigh and said no more.
Lin Fei naturally knew that he feared the Bai family would strike against the Qing family again, repeating what had happened to Qing Mingyu.
Lin Fei gave a hum and said casually, "Your worries are understandable. In recognition of your gratitude and loyalty, I can bestow Barrier Talismans upon everyone in your Qing family to keep you safe."
Qing Fen was instantly overjoyed and bowed deeply with his hands clasped. "Thank you, Immortal Master!"
Lin Fei helped him up with one hand and said offhandedly, "The others won't be a problem. I'm only afraid your daughter won't accept anything from me. When danger comes, her life may well be at risk."
Hearing this, Qing Fen was torn as well. "Well... thank you for your concern, Immortal Master. I will certainly think of something!"
Lin Fei nodded slightly, then had Qing Fen lead him to the study.
Qing Fen's study had a full set of brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones.
The raw xuan paper had excellent water permeability and absorbency.
Once the brush touched it, the ink would quickly seep through, leaving no chance for corrections or pauses. It was extremely difficult to master.
Lin Fei calmly picked up a purple-hair brush, made from wild hare fur, its hairs a glossy purplish black.
He dipped it in ink, lifted the brush, and sent dragons and snakes racing beneath its tip, completing it in a single flowing motion.
The first stroke was rich with ink, the last dry, the spacing well judged, the strokes upright and steady.
Though they were merely sheets of talisman paper, they captured the very spirit of calligraphy. Before the ink of those mysterious characters had even dried, they exuded an indescribable grace, their strokes like golden hooks and silver lines, powerful as dragons!
Qing Fen had considerable expertise in calligraphy, and the sight inevitably filled him with wonder. Even setting aside their miraculous power to protect and preserve life, this semi-running regular script alone would be enough to shake the entire calligraphy world!
If these went to auction, could they fetch more than an authentic work by the Sage of Calligraphy, Wang Xizhi? This strange thought arose in Qing Fen's mind, but he immediately felt ashamed.
How could such divine objects be measured in money?
In one unbroken flow, like drifting clouds and running water, Lin Fei wrote several Barrier Talismans and handed them to Qing Fen.
Qing Fen bowed and thanked him again. Lin Fei helped him up with one hand. "As I said before, there's no need to be reserved or so ceremonious."
Over his two hundred million years of life, Lin Fei's students had spread across the four seas and eight wildernesses. Never mind those who had bowed to him with clasped hands-even those who had knelt and prostrated themselves before him numbered at least eight thousand, if not ten thousand.
Lin Fei had barely taken a few steps out of the study when he saw Qing Lixue and Ji Yaoguang in a bedroom. The door was open, leaving everything inside clearly visible.
Although Qing Lixue had been brought back, she clearly had not calmed down yet. She kept sobbing, her shoulders trembling slightly.
Ji Yaoguang patiently comforted her at her side, handing her tissues to wipe away her tears.
Lin Fei was somewhat at a loss for words too. Qing Fen's slap earlier had indeed gone a little too far.
"Lixue, this is for you." As the thought occurred to Ji Yaoguang, she actually took the necklace off her neck and offered it to Qing Lixue.
She naturally knew how useful this Barrier Talisman was, but to cheer Qing Lixue up, she still gave it away without hesitation.
It showed how close the two women were, unlike the hypocrisy of the Ji and Song families' "friendship spanning generations."
Yet faced with such a valuable gift, Qing Lixue said in vexation, "I don't want that charlatan's ghost-scrawled talisman!"
Lin Fei was not surprised. He had known she would react this way.
"Lixue, just think of it as another birthday present from me. Take it," Ji Yaoguang urged softly. "Didn't you say you liked this necklace?"
Qing Lixue hesitated for a moment, and only after Ji Yaoguang's repeated insistence did she thank her.
"Here, I'll put it on for you." Ji Yaoguang smiled faintly, sat down behind Qing Lixue, and fastened the necklace around her neck.
Qing Lixue hesitated briefly before getting up to look in the mirror-women loved beauty, after all.
"Sister Yaoguang, does it look good?" Qing Lixue looked at Ji Yaoguang uncertainly.
Ji Yaoguang immediately smiled. "It does."
Lin Fei watched no further and waited downstairs instead.
Before long, Ji Yaoguang came downstairs, and Lin Fei asked with a smile, "You gave Qing Lixue the necklace?"
Ji Yaoguang was a little surprised, but still replied with a wry smile, "Yes."
Lin Fei nodded gently. "Afraid something would happen to her like it did to Qing Mingyu?"
Ji Yaoguang sighed and nodded. "Yes. I thought that since your relationship with Chairman Qing is clearly no simple one, you would surely keep the Qing family safe. But without doing it this way, I'm afraid she wouldn't accept your kindness."
She hesitated briefly, but still asked tentatively, "You won't blame me for taking it upon myself to give her something you gave me, will you?"
Lin Fei shook his head.
It was only a mere Barrier Talisman, something he could produce with a flick of his hand.
By contrast, it was Ji Yaoguang's thoughtfulness that deserved appreciation.
With so much having happened, and even the guest of honor no longer making an appearance, the Qing family's banquet could practically be said to have ended on a sour note.
Lin Fei and Ji Yaoguang did not stay much longer either, soon leaving the Qing family's villa.
Yet someone had already been waiting at the entrance for a long time. Seeing the two emerge, he immediately looked over with bloodshot eyes.
Song Hao.
Beside him was a young man with a distinctly arrogant expression. Leaning against the wall with his arms folded, he merely swept a casual glance over the pair before giving a derisive laugh and turning his head away.
He paid the two no heed whatsoever.
"You really are a lingering ghost." Lin Fei could not be bothered with this man either and addressed only Song Hao.
Song Hao shot him a vicious sidelong glance, then turned to Ji Yaoguang. "Ji Yaoguang, I'm giving you one last chance. Tonight, you either get in the car and come with me, or bear the consequences!"
Lin Fei took half a step forward as casually as if strolling through a quiet courtyard, and Song Hao immediately backed away nervously.
The arrogant-looking young man also sauntered in front of Song Hao, placing himself between the two.