Chapter 25 Part 1: A Morning Exercise Scandal

After parting with Song Yunli, Qianyang walked alone to the subway station.

 

Having been down the mountain for quite some time, she had already figured out how to use public transportation.

 

Thinking that Yang Mao should be off work by now, Qianyang gave him a call.

 

After the incident at Shenlin Residence, she had saved Yang Mao’s contact information and started carrying her phone when she went out.

“Apprentice, I have good news.”

Qianyang’s tone was light and cheerful.

“What is it?

Did you win two billion in the lottery?”

Yang Mao blurted out.

 

He hadn’t been in a good state lately.

Qin Shuyi wandered around at night instead of sleeping, and he would even mutter in his dreams about how to get rich.

 

Qianyang laughed.

“Close enough.

The compensation problem is solved.”

“Solved?!”

Yang Mao’s voice rose, full of disbelief.

“Yep.

Solved.”

“No way?

How?”

Yang Mao asked, shocked.

 

Qianyang explained, “I agreed to extend his lifespan by a few years.

That offset the 2.1 billion compensation, and he still owes me four hundred million.”

“…”

Yang Mao was silent for a moment.

His voice didn’t sound much relieved.

“Master, didn’t you say before that if you got involved in his affairs, you wouldn’t be able to easily extricate yourself?”

“Yes.”

Qianyang replied.

“His yin energy is too heavy.

He should have been plagued by misfortune.

Probably someone helped him temporarily avoid it.

But within a year, he will definitely die.”

“Then… how will you help him extend his lifespan?

Will it affect you?”

Yang Mao asked.

“Affect me?

I have always had strong fortune.

Just extending his life by a few years will have basically no impact on me.”

“Really?”

“Of course.

However, if he wanted to live out his remaining years in peace, he could only resign himself to forming a positive bond with me to offset it.”

“Forming a positive bond?”

Yang Mao asked, puzzled.

“That is… binding his fate chart to mine.

Using my yang energy to cancel out his yin energy.

Using my merit to offset his evil deeds.”

“Oh…”

Yang Mao suddenly understood.

“So that’s what you meant by not being able to extricate yourself!”

“Then wouldn’t he have to…”

“But just extending his life by a few years doesn’t require that much trouble.

I can use a similar method without getting myself entangled.”

“He… doesn’t want to live?”

Yang Mao sighed ruefully.

“Two point five billion, just for a few years?”

 

Qianyang said dismissively, “His will to live isn’t strong.

And if he had done something heinous, I wouldn’t truly sacrifice myself for him.”

“Anyway, the problem is solved.

Your master won’t go bankrupt.

You and Yang Wei don’t need to be so tense.”

 

Yang Mao’s tone relaxed.

“As long as it doesn’t affect you.”

“Yes.

You two are just too impatient.

Learn a thing or two from your junior apprentice sister.”

 

Yang Mao retorted, “Junior apprentice sister?

She’s a ghost.

Of course she doesn’t care.

She thinks being a ghost is pretty great!”

 

With that worry off her mind, Qianyang’s step lightened on her way back.

 

She had finally managed to protect her wallet.

 

That evening at home, Qianyang also shared this matter with the stream viewers.

 

However, since Song Yunli wasn’t a public figure, Qianyang didn’t tell anyone else about their arrangement.

She only said that she had legally and reasonably resolved the compensation issue.

 

The next day, Qianyang went to the nearby bridge as usual.

“She’s here, she’s here!

Little Master Qianyang is finally here!”

“Little master, we’ve cleared the space.

Let’s do a couple of sets!”

“Hehe, after practicing with the little master for a few days, my arms don’t ache and my legs don’t hurt anymore!”

 

Qianyang’s reputation had spread around the bridge area.

Every morning at seven, these elderly folks showed up on time at the square, waiting to exercise with her.

“Alright, I’ll lead you through two sets first.”

Qianyang put down her cloth bag, walked to the front of the group, and led them in the exercises.

“Dear viewers, good morning.

It’s now seven-ten in the morning.

We’ve arrived at Honglian Square on Laojie Street in Fenyie District, Taihang City.”

Just then, several cameramen and reporters began introducing the location in front of their cameras.

 

Qianyang focused on her exercises and didn’t notice them.

 

But the elderly folks behind her straightened up, their expressions solemn, their movements perfectly synchronized, showing an unprecedented level of energy.

“Recently, our television station has received several submissions claiming that an elderly person in their household has been going out at six-thirty every morning for the past month, often taking food from home—rice, vegetables, eggs, cured meat, and so on.

After going out, they return drenched in sweat, and all the food is gone.”

“Moreover, at home, they seem possessed, listening to some kind of chant every day, constantly muttering about a certain master, as if they’ve joined some kind of illegal organization.”

“After receiving these submissions, Taihang Television immediately decided to investigate and came to the scene—Honglian Square on Laojie Street.”

 

With that, the reporter stepped out of the frame to show the viewers the situation at Honglian Square.

 

On the spacious square, people stood at 1.5-meter intervals in all directions, neatly and uniformly following a young Taoist in their exercises.

The scene resembled morning practice for disciples in a martial arts drama.

“Viewers watching at home should be able to see that a group of well-trained elderly people has appeared at Honglian Square, exercising and practicing with a young master.”

The reporter exclaimed in surprise, “Could this be the legendary illegal organization?

Let our reporter take you deeper for an investigation.”

 

The camera kept pushing forward, panning over everyone in the square, finally stopping on Qianyang in her Daoist robe.

“Dear viewers, this young master should be the one the elderly folks often mention.

Let’s find out more.”

“Huh?

This young master looks somewhat familiar,” the reporter said with confusion.

 

After finishing two sets of exercises, Qianyang placed her hands flat in front of her chest, exhaled, and stopped her movements.

Her face was still not flushed, nor was she out of breath.

 

But when she opened her eyes, a black camera was almost pressed against her forehead.

“?”

Qianyang looked at the camera crew in confusion.

“Young master, what are you doing with these elderly folks?”

The reporter held a microphone to her.

“Exercising,” Qianyang frowned.

Wasn’t that obvious?

“During this time, have you been coming every morning to exercise with them?”

“Yes.

What’s wrong?”

Qianyang asked, puzzled.

“Then, besides exercising, have you taken anything from them?”

“Eggs?”

Qianyang looked surprised, not understanding what they were getting at.

“Here’s the situation.

We’re staff from Taihang Television.

We received submissions suggesting that an illegal organization might be operating at Honglian Square, defrauding the elderly of their belongings and brainwashing them.”

“Illegal organization?”

Qianyang shook her head.

“I don’t know anything about that.

You should ask someone else.”

 

Reporter: “…”

“Then what exactly are you and these elderly folks doing?”

“Exercising.

Can’t you tell?”

 

Meanwhile, an auntie who had finished exercising picked up her phone next to the camera.

“Hello?”

 

The auntie put the call on speaker.

A woman’s voice came through: “Mom, what exactly are you doing?

How many times have I told you?

No more going to Honglian Square in the morning!”

“Oh!

I’m perfectly safe.

I haven’t joined any cult!

This young master of ours is amazing, nothing like those fraudsters.

Don’t you worry!”

“Mom!

You’ve been brainwashed!”

“I know!

The ones who give out eggs are the fraudsters.

This young master isn’t!

Remember how Auntie Liu’s leg used to cramp all the time?

The little master cured her!”

The auntie said earnestly.

 

Qianyang belatedly realized what was happening.

She pointed at herself and said to the reporter, “Me?

An illegal organization?”

 

The reporter found her somewhat familiar but couldn’t quite place it.

He nodded blankly.

“Yes…”

 

Qianyang: “…”

 

The auntie was still on the phone with her daughter, getting impatient with the scolding.

“Oh!

Taihang Television is broadcasting live right now.

Turn on your TV and see for yourself what I’m doing!”

“Wait there!

I want to see what you’ve been up to!” her daughter said.

 

The auntie stepped next to Qianyang.

“Little master, wait a moment.

My daughter wants to see what we’re doing.”

“Oh…”

 

Qianyang felt a bit defeated.

 

Every morning, she diligently taught these elderly folks to exercise, like going to work, and now she was being treated as the head of an illegal organization.

 

An illegal organization… just from the name, she knew that kind of thing landed you in jail.

“Mom, I’ve turned on the TV,” her daughter’s voice came through the phone, earnest and sincere.

“Mom, Master Qianyang herself said not to believe just anything, as it might affect your fortune.

Why are you still listening to nonsense?”

 

Qianyang paused for a couple of seconds, feeling as though she’d heard a familiar name.

“Mom, look!

That little Taoist next to you, she’s so young, how could she possibly…”

Suddenly, the daughter’s voice faltered, followed by a sharp intake of breath.

 

The auntie hadn’t noticed.

She turned her head and asked, “Little master, what did Sister Liu call you before?

It sounds so familiar…”

“Ah!!!”

 

A scream came from the phone.

“Master Qianyang!!!

What are you doing here?!!”

“Holy shit!

I remember now!”

The reporter had an epiphany.

“You’re Master Qianyang!”

 

Qianyang: “?”

“Mom, Mom!

Stay right where you are!

Wait for me!”

The daughter’s voice was excited.

“Huh?

Why are you coming?”

“I, I want to see Master Qianyang!”

 

Qianyang did not feel happy about this.

 

Her shoulders slumped.

She felt utterly defeated.

 

The head of an illegal organization would definitely be arrested and thrown in jail.

 

She had heard that once you go to jail, your life is ruined.

 

Had she already broken the law just by teaching the elderly to exercise, telling fortunes, and accepting a reasonable fee?

 

She had just said she wouldn’t break any laws.

“Master Qianyang, I’ve watched your stream!

You’re amazing!”

The reporter said excitedly.

 

Qianyang looked up at him, disheartened.

“Isn’t it that ignorance of the law is no excuse?

I didn’t know this was illegal.

I’ll just stop coming here.”

 

She didn’t want to go to jail, and she didn’t want to clash with the police.

 

If she had known, she wouldn’t have been so greedy for such a small amount of fortune-telling money.

“Ah…”

“Little master?!”

The auntie looked at her in panic.

“No way!

If you don’t come, what will we do?”

“What?

Master Qianyang isn’t coming tomorrow?”

“What’s going on?

Who bullied Master Qianyang?”

“Those TV people said our little master is running an illegal organization!”

“What nonsense!

When have we ever done anything illegal?”

“The little master teaches us exercises and keeps us healthy—how is that against the law?”

 

The reporter and cameraman looked at each other in bewilderment.

 

It hadn’t looked like an illegal organization at first, but the way they were defending her so fiercely made it seem a bit like one.

 

Yang Mao was at work when he suddenly felt his phone buzzing like crazy.

 

He ducked into the bathroom, opened his phone, and saw that in one minute, he had received over a hundred private messages.

 

– Senior Disciple Brother!

What’s going on?

Our master has been wronged!

– Senior Disciple Brother, look!

Our master is so pitiful!

– (Angry) Who reported the streamer for running an illegal organization?

– Dying of laughter.

The streamer thought she was going to jail!

 

Yang Mao clicked on a video in the private messages with a puzzled expression.

 

He saw the whole interview and couldn’t help but laugh and sigh.

 

So it was an elderly woman’s daughter who had mistaken her for a fraudster.

 

At the end of the video, the reporter said solemnly in front of dozens of elderly people and the camera: “Dear viewers at home, the reporter has thoroughly investigated the situation at Honglian Square on Laojie Street.

There is no fraud, brainwashing, illegal organization, or any other illegal activity.

The elderly are simply exercising with a highly respected master to keep fit.

There is absolutely no deception.”

“Little master, are you going home?”

“Will you come tomorrow?”

“You must come tomorrow!”

“Master Qianyang, we’ll be waiting for you here tomorrow!”

 

The reporter glanced off-camera and suddenly sped up.

“Dear viewers at home, today’s outdoor segment ends here.

See you tomorrow.”

 

Before the director could cut the feed, he threw his microphone to the cameraman and disappeared from the frame in three big steps.

“Master Qianyang!!!

Wait a moment!

I have a question for you!”

 

Yang Mao smiled helplessly.

Figuring there was nothing else, he put away his phone and returned to his desk.

 

That evening, when he got home from work, Qianyang was sitting alone on the sofa in silent self-pity.

“Master?”

Yang Mao turned on the living room light and saw Qianyang sitting on the sofa with a blank expression.

 

Qianyang looked up at him and said immediately, “Apprentice, I almost got arrested this morning.”

 

Yang Mao hadn’t realized she was still thinking about the morning’s events.

He put down his backpack.

“The TV station and the daughter misunderstood.

Don’t take it to heart.”

 

Qianyang pressed her lips.

“What’s for dinner?”

“Braised pork ribs?

I’ll have Yang Wei bring you some sausages on her way back?”

“Yes.”

 

After dinner, Qianyang started the stream.

 

She had been distracted in the morning and had gone offline after only three hours.

 

– Good evening, streamer!

– What’s wrong?

You still haven’t recovered?

– Oh dear!

A law-abiding citizen gets misunderstood—feeling down?

 

Qianyang, the sole heir of the Qian family, had been publicly executed on television as a fraudster.

No matter how you looked at it, it was a blow to her pride.

 

– AHHHHHH!

– Master Qianyang, I’m so sorry!!!

I really didn’t know it was you!!!

– My mom goes to the square every day.

Lately, she’s been acting strange.

And you said before not to believe just anything, so I…

 

Qianyang hadn’t expected that the boomerang from the past would hit her instead.

 

– AHHHHHH!

The young master in my dad’s mouth is actually Master Qianyang!

– Master, please don’t take it to heart!

You are absolutely, definitely not a fraudster!

– My dad’s rheumatism of over ten years hasn’t flared up lately.

He praises you every day at home.

– Sob sob, there are too many scams targeting the elderly.

We were just worried about them.

We didn’t mean to target you!

– Seriously!

My mom was worried you wouldn’t come tomorrow.

She came home and gave me a thorough scolding.

 

Qianyang said, “I’ll go tomorrow.”

 

– Good, good.

– Master, don’t worry.

We believe in you!

 

Qianyang’s mood noticeably improved.

She muttered, “Gave me quite a scare.”

 

– Hahaha!

– So the streamer can be scared too?

– Oh man, she’s not even afraid of ghosts.

 

“That’s different.

Breaking the law means going to jail,” Qianyang said seriously.

 

Since she had come down the mountain, she naturally had to follow the laws and regulations.

 

Later, she would have Yang Mao buy her a few copies of the legal code.

She definitely didn’t want to be legally illiterate anymore!

 

– Curious, what does the streamer do every morning?

– Streamer, have you considered an outdoor broadcast?

– Do the elderly at the square usually not watch streams?

Why do they trust Qianyang so much?

– Streamer!

Do an outdoor broadcast tomorrow morning!

 

Qianyang thought for a moment, then nodded.

“Okay.”

 

Yang Mao said, “I don’t have much work tomorrow morning.

Master, I’ll go with you.”

“Good.”

 

Qianyang reminded, “Tomorrow morning, start the stream two hours earlier.

Start at seven sharp.”

 

The next day, when Qianyang woke up, Yang Wei was just leaving for morning study session.

“Good morning, Sister.”

Yang Wei rubbed her eyes and greeted her.

 

Although Yang Mao didn’t like her calling Qianyang that—feeling he was at a disadvantage—he couldn’t come up with a better address for such a young and beautiful face, so he let it go.

“Where’s your brother?”

Qianyang asked.

“Shuyi is waking him up,” Yang Wei said.

 

Unlike her brother, Yang Wei wasn’t afraid of supernatural things.

She had almost instantly accepted that Qin Shuyi, whom she couldn’t see, was in the house.

 

Moreover, in some aspects, Yang Wei was much more reliable than her brother.

 

Soon, Yang Mao woke up bleary-eyed.

After a quick wash, he left with Qianyang.

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