Volume One, Chapter Four: Charging Fees

Xiao Shiyu watched Xiao Xian’s hurried departure and felt a twinge of regret for bringing Su Tong back. She had spoken so recklessly, giving Granduncle hope; if in the end they still failed to find his daughter, how heartbroken he would be.

He turned to Su Tong and threatened, “You’d better be telling the truth. If you dare deceive Granduncle, I won’t let you off.”

Su Tong thought the rumors about Xiao Shiyu’s gentle nature were mistaken. It hadn’t been long, and he had already scolded and threatened her several times.

However, his threats lacked any real deterrence.

Su Tong was very confident in her fortune-telling ability and replied directly, “Rest assured, everything I’ve said is true. I can guarantee that within a year, your granduncle will find his daughter.”

Just now, after Xiao Xian said he would keep looking for his daughter, his face changed. The previously withered palace of children began to glow with vitality.

As they talked, neither noticed that a gust of wind had blown, sending the burning paper money swirling in the air.

It was summer, hot and dry, and the garden was littered with uncleared dead branches and leaves, which quickly caught fire.

The flames grew larger.

Xiao Shiyu stared blankly at the blaze, remembering Su Tong’s warning about a fire in his home, too shocked to dodge or call for help.

The burning paper money continued to fly about.

Su Tong, her expression solemn, raised her hand to wave away a flame that nearly landed on Xiao Shiyu.

“Hurry up and call for help!”

Hearing Su Tong’s impatient voice, Xiao Shiyu finally snapped out of it, fumbling for his phone to make a call.

Soon, servants rushed out from the villa, some with fire extinguishers, others with hoses, beginning to fight the fire.

Su Tong wasn’t idle; her hands moved in intricate gestures as she chanted a spell.

“Heaven and earth, mysterious and yellow, let water flow swiftly, bring down sweet rain, as the law commands!”

As her words fell, the water from the hoses seemed guided by an unseen force, gathering in the air into a large water sphere that landed precisely on a distant fire spot.

The people nearby were stunned!

It was the twenty-first century, yet someone could wield magic?!

Finally, thanks to everyone’s efforts, the fire was quickly extinguished, and no major damage was caused.

Xiao Shiyu was now convinced Su Tong was a metaphysical practitioner—and a powerful one at that.

He approached her, bowed deeply, his posture humble and voice sincere.

“Thank you, Master, for saving me again, and I apologize for doubting you earlier.”

Su Tong stepped back, adopting an official demeanor.

“Payment: four merits.”

“What?”

Xiao Shiyu was bewildered, wondering if he’d misheard.

He knew about merits, but could merits be used for transactions?

Su Tong repeated earnestly, “I saved you twice. The fee is four merits.”

This time, Xiao Shiyu was sure he heard correctly. He scratched his head, looking conflicted.

“If I had merits, I’d gladly give them to you, but I don’t know how.”

Su Tong glanced at him and explained, “You just have to consent. I’ll take care of the rest.”

Now Xiao Shiyu understood; the practitioner’s methods were beyond him, so he nodded in agreement, “Alright, take them.”

With his consent, Su Tong reached out, and four merits were hers.

Two merits dissipated into the universe, erasing karma; the other two she kept.

Looking at the merits she had received, a genuine smile bloomed on her face.

Her curved brows and eyes blossomed like flowers, long lashes fluttering like butterfly wings, her plump cheeks resembling a little hamster, and her dimples lively and mischievous.

Xiao Shiyu was momentarily entranced—how could someone be so sweet and adorable!

He wanted so badly to pinch her cheeks!

Thinking this, he subconsciously reached out.

Seeing his action, Su Tong didn’t dodge, but directly exposed his intention.

“You want to pinch my cheeks?”

Xiao Shiyu jolted, quickly withdrawing his hand.

She was a metaphysical practitioner, her abilities mysterious and unfathomable.

How could he dare think of pinching her cheeks?

Wasn’t that courting disaster?

“I’m sorry, I…”

Xiao Shiyu hurriedly apologized, but Su Tong replied seriously, “One merit for each pinch.”

Su Tong didn’t find this shameful—fair trade, nothing illegal.

Xiao Shiyu paused, surprised. Was this possible? Was the master so desperate for merits?

So should he pinch, or not pinch?

Seeing Xiao Shiyu’s hesitation, Su Tong stomped her foot and urged, “Are you going to pinch or not? If not, I’m leaving. I need to find a place to stay, or I’ll have to sleep on the streets tonight.”

With the cutest face, she uttered such words, giving Xiao Shiyu a sense of adorable ferocity.

He couldn’t help but smile gently. “Why would Master Su stay outside? It’s much better to live in my home—plenty of rooms, spacious.”

He didn’t ask why Su Tong had nowhere to stay; everyone has their secrets and struggles.

Moreover, she truly had abilities. Taking her in for a while would foster a good relationship and could only help the Xiao family’s future.

Su Tong pursed her lips; just moments ago, he had guarded against her as if she were a wolf.

Now, she thought Xiao Shiyu resembled the big bad wolf coaxing Little Red Riding Hood.

Still, it suited her needs, so she nodded, “Alright, I can pay rent.”

Xiao Shiyu waved his hand, his tone gentle, “No need. You saved my life—you’re an honored guest in our home. Stay as long as you like.”

With that, he took Su Tong’s suitcase and led her into the villa, his attitude far warmer than when she first arrived.

The Xiao family villa was also decorated in a retro Chinese style, carrying a unique charm shaped by the passage of time.

Xiao Shiyu led Su Tong up to the third floor.

“Master, do you have any requirements for the size or orientation of the room?”

Perhaps because Xiao Shiyu’s tone was so earnest, Su Tong felt awkward hearing him call her ‘master.’

She replied directly, “No need to call me master. Just use my name. Any room will do.”

Xiao Shiyu arranged for Su Tong to stay next door to him.

The room was spacious, with a carved wooden bed and cabinets, flowing sheer curtains, as if stepping into the boudoir of a lady from ancient times.

Su Tong was instantly enchanted, her eyes sparkling, lips curling into a smile.

As she was unpacking, she suddenly sensed a merit entering her body.

Calculating with her fingers, she discovered it was from Su Xi!

It turned out that shortly after Su Tong left the Su family, Su Mingzhe and Shen Xianglan brought Su Xi back home.

Overcome with excitement, Su Xi missed a step and fell down the stairs.

The life exchange spell in her red bracelet transferred some of Su Tong’s owed merit to Su Xi.

When Su Xi suffered misfortune, Su Tong gained merit.

When Su Xi did good deeds, Su Tong received double merit.

However, when Su Tong calculated that Su Xi had only broken her leg, her lips drooped in disappointment.

Why hadn’t she injured more places? Then she’d have gained more merit.

But thinking further, the more severe the injury, the slower the recovery, which wouldn’t be good for harvesting more merit later.

A broken leg meant Su Xi could still hop about and keep earning merit for her—just right.

Su Tong’s smile returned. Humming a little tune, she had just finished setting out her belongings when she heard a knock at the door.