Chapter 105: Surveillance at the Airport

Currently, in the supernatural community, according to my master, there are six major factions—three righteous and three sinister. This doesn't even include other groups like supernatural families, freelance practitioners, and various supernatural organizations. These are all powers existing within the supernatural world. No wonder my master always told me not to act impulsively when facing challenges but to remain rational. Now I understand why. The supernatural world is truly deep—so deep it chills and frightens the heart. Who knows? One day you might suddenly rise to prominence, and the next day, just vanish without a trace.

My master let out a long sigh, stood up, glanced at the time, and said, "Let's go eat."

I replied with a "Okay," and we went to the hotel's restaurant for a buffet. After the meal, the sky grew dim, time flew by, and night fell swiftly.

That night, we stayed inside the room and didn’t go out. It wasn’t until late at night that we finally fell asleep.

The next day, my master pulled me awake and said, "Get up, kid, time to work."

Still groggy, I yawned and asked, "What time is it, master?"

"Seven thirty," he said without turning his head.

I nodded, rubbed my messy hair, changed clothes, and headed out with my master. I originally thought we would go to Dragon Lock Well to wait for Ghost Mountain, but to my surprise, my master was heading to the capital airport instead. Puzzled, I asked, "Master, weren’t we going to Dragon Lock Well? Why the airport?"

He glanced at me and whispered, "Do you trust those people sent by the Qi family?"

I was taken aback, then nodded and shook my head at the same time, saying, "How should I know?"

My master smiled and said, "Good you don’t know. Anyway, I don’t trust that Qi Han kid. Back when he was vying for the family head position with his brother, he used many despicable tricks. It’s better to be cautious around him."

I nodded helplessly and took a ride with my master to the capital airport. Sure enough, my master’s suspicion proved correct. Although it was crowded and it was hard to spot Qi family members, my master saw through it immediately and said, "Damn, Qi Han’s playing tricks on me. There’s a ghost from the Qi family here at the airport? Does he really think I’m that easy to fool?"

I was startled and asked, "Master, what did you discover?"

He nodded and said, "I used my Tao Eye to look around—only ordinary people here, not a single one with spiritual energy. So where are these Qi family people?"

Hearing this, I carefully scanned the crowded scene and realized he was right: all ordinary people, not a single one with spiritual energy. My master sighed in frustration and said, "Forget it. Once this is over, I’ll settle things with Qi Han. If I don’t teach him a lesson, who knows what chaos he might cause."

I nodded and, together with my master, kept watch. Li Xin had said the ticket to Ghost Mountain was from Shaanxi, flying directly to Beijing at nine. We grabbed some food at the airport and waited outside. At one point, we sat casually in a nearby herbal tea shop that faced the airport, where we could watch every plane take off and land. My master took a sip of tea and picked up a newspaper. Seeing him like this, I suddenly smiled.

My master looked at me, puzzled, and asked, "What’s so funny?"

I waved my hand and said, "Master, you look just like an elderly man."

He put down his cup and said, "I’ve lived for six hundred years. Wouldn’t you say I’m old?"

I was caught off guard but laughed, "Master, you’re just joking with me."

He didn’t reply, just gave a faint smile and resumed reading. Bored and having not slept well the night before, I rested my head on the table and dozed off. But soon after, I felt someone sit beside me. I looked up and saw a young man dressed in black with a black hat, grinning at me.

I was startled and asked, "Hello, do you need something?"

The young man shook his head. "Nothing, nothing. Hey, Senior Tan, do you recognize me?"

My master was stunned. Looking at the young man about my age, he asked, "Recognize you? Who are you? And how do you know my surname is Tan?"

The young man chuckled, "Senior, my name is Li Muyang. The Qi family head sent us here yesterday. I was late today because I stayed up too late last night, hehe."

My master was even more surprised. After scrutinizing him, he suddenly slammed the table and said to me, "Hey, among the fifty or so people Qi Han sent yesterday, this kid was one of them. I was wondering why he looked so familiar. Seems Qi Han still has a bit of humanity left, leaving one kid behind for me. But wait, Qi Han has been in a high position for years and looks down on people now, huh? Sending a kid like this—damn it, once this is over, I’ll deal with him properly."

My master’s sudden change of tone left both Li Muyang and me stunned. I glanced at my master’s shifting expression and smiled wryly, "Master, are you changing faces or performing a trick? Your mood flips so quickly."

Master was taken aback and said, "I don’t care what you think!"

I shrugged. Master really was like a big kid—haha.

He gave me a side glance, then turned to Li Muyang and said, "Hey, why did the Qi family send you? Weren’t the others recalled by Qi Han?"

Li Muyang was stunned and blankly replied, "Recalled? I didn’t know."

Li Muyang’s words made both my master and me feel awkward. Clearing his throat, my master said, "Alright, your name is Li Muyang?"

Li Muyang nodded. Master continued, "Strange, why would the Qi family have someone with a different surname?"

"Hehe, Senior, I’m not really part of the Qi family. I’m a stray child they adopted," Li Muyang said.

"A stray child?" my master exclaimed.

Li Muyang nodded. My master beckoned to the waiter, who quickly brought over a bowl of herbal tea. Li Muyang grinned sheepishly and thanked him. My master waved his hand and asked, "How did you get adopted?"

Li Muyang looked up at the ceiling, thought for a moment, and said, "Well, I’m not exactly sure. I only know that when I was little, I was begging on the streets with no one paying attention to me. Then an old gentleman came up to me and said I could go home with him—there’d be food and water, and I wouldn’t have to wander anymore. I didn’t think much and went with him. That night, I overheard a fight next door about me having spiritual energy and the potential to be cultivated. Someone else was opposing it, and they kept arguing. I thought I’d be kicked out the next day, but instead, I stayed in the Qi family, all the way until now."

I looked at him, half confused by his unclear story. My master, however, seemed to understand and nodded. Just then, the waiter placed the herbal tea in front of Li Muyang. He took a sip, and my master said, "Since you’re here, you can stay. Don’t worry, you won’t be in danger."

Li Muyang wiped his mouth and smiled, "Thanks, Senior, hehe."

My master nodded and gave me a wry smile. I awkwardly scratched the back of my head, glanced at Li Muyang, yawned, and rested my head on the table again.

I don’t know how much time passed before my master shook my arm, waking me up abruptly. I blinked, startled, and asked, "What’s wrong, master? Is something happening?"

He shook his head and looked at me speechlessly, saying, "Look at you—sleeping like that, drooling all over the table."

I was embarrassed and glanced around, then grabbed some tissues to wipe my drool. My master shot me a sideways glance, and I chuckled. Suddenly, he furrowed his brows, raised his hand, signaling for silence, as if he sensed something.