Chapter 42 Being Shunned

As his sole direct disciple nowadays, Zhuang Lin naturally cared a great deal about Liu Hongyu.

However, after traveling together to Zhonghai City, Zhuang Lin realized his concerns were unwarranted. Liu Hongyu’s state of mind was far more resilient than he had imagined; it was not merely an outward calmness, but a shift in spiritual fortune that could be distinctly felt and even seen.

Inside the Zhonghai City Funeral Parlor, Liu Hongyu and Zhuang Lin joined the others in viewing Liu Shihao’s remains.

Although the news had not yet been announced to the public, the funeral preparations had already quietly begun, and everything was nearly ready by the time Liu Hongyu returned.

In the center of the inner hall stood a crystal casket surrounded by clusters of fresh flowers. The internal refrigeration system kept Liu Shihao’s body well-preserved, and under the skillful hands of the mortuary cosmetologist, the person inside even appeared somewhat peaceful and serene.

Liu Hongyu looked at the figure lying within through the glass of the casket, reaching out to touch the cold glass cover.

This formidable man, a legendary figure in the business world who had weathered countless storms throughout his life, was now lying quietly inside, plunged into an eternal slumber.

All kinds of childhood memories surfaced in his mind—the good and the bad, the joyful and the painful—as if transforming into various flavors for Liu Hongyu to taste all over again.

Under the fluctuating waves of Liu Hongyu’s state of mind, wisps of changing spiritual fortune manifested in Zhuang Lin’s eyes. Gradually, however, those gloomy shades began to dissipate, and a pure, bright radiance slowly took command of the high ground.

"Master... Thank you for accompanying me on this trip!"

The moment he saw Liu Shihao’s remains, Liu Hongyu understood completely that even though his master was a high adept of the Daoist immortals, there was nothing extra that could be done.

The traces of the soul upon the corpse had already faded away to almost nothing.

Perhaps this was simply the era of exhausted spiritual energy; even turning into a ghost was no longer a certainty.

Zhuang Lin said nothing more. His thoughts were largely similar. Perhaps the lingering trace of spiritual awareness left behind after the death of many individuals would, through a principle akin to osmotic pressure, rapidly dissipate between heaven and earth.

Zhou Xianglin reached out from the side and patted Liu Hongyu on the shoulder.

"Hongyu, please accept my condolences!"

Liu Hongyu turned his head to look at Zhou Xianglin.

"Uncle Zhou, I know you must be very busy right now, handling the loose ends of so many plans. You don't need to worry; there are plenty of people here who can help me..."

"Since you can say that, you truly have grown up!"

Zhou Xianglin was immensely gratified.

"Very well, I'll go take care of some matters first and will come right back once things are settled. And Master Zhuang, we'll have an opportunity to chat again!"

Zhou Xianglin extended his hand. Zhuang Lin nodded, finally shaking hands with him in a modern courtesy, and then watched as the veteran director departed first.

Liu Lei, standing nearby, stepped a little closer and lowered his voice.

"Earlier on the plane, I saw that Master Zhuang was quite interested in that piece of jewelry. If you want it, sir, I can arrange for someone to accompany you to the auction. It should still not be too late to go now. What do you think, young master?"

Liu Hongyu looked at Liu Lei, then nodded toward Zhuang Lin.

"Master, you don't need to worry about the cost. Just acquire it directly!"

Zhuang Lin stood on no ceremony; with his own direct disciple, there was even less need for politeness.

"Very well. Since you say so, I shall go fetch that hairpin first, and then return to the valley to wait for you!"

Hearing the words "return to the valley to wait for you," Liu Lei instinctively furrowed his brow slightly, then cast a sideways glance at the driver, who immediately approached Zhuang Lin.

"Master Zhuang, this way please. I'll take you to the auction center!"

"Very good!"

Zhuang Lin nodded and left with the others. For him, there was nothing to worry about, nor anything to feel awkward over.

A luxury sedan served as Zhuang Lin’s transport for this trip, and along the way, he learned that his companion was none other than Liu Shihao’s former personal driver, easily one of the absolute confidants of the Liu family.

Back at the funeral parlor, with Zhuang Lin finally escorted away, Liu Lei breathed a slight sigh of relief.

For some reason, whenever that person was together with the young master, Liu Lei always felt an inexplicable sense of distance, as if they simply had never "left ancient times."

Looking now at Liu Hongyu, who still carried the large wooden box on his back, Liu Lei could not help speaking up again.

"Young master, you can rest assured about taking over the company; forget everything that happened before. Once the funeral is over, I will immediately arrange a shareholders' meeting. At the same time, I will finalize the funding for all previously related personnel and handle their corresponding identity restoration work!"

Liu Lei’s competence was absolute; otherwise, Liu Shihao would not have valued him so highly. Yet, it was clear he desperately hoped Liu Hongyu would no longer entangle himself in those absurd matters.

Liu Lei’s words caught Liu Hongyu’s attention. Having reined in his sorrow, he turned to look at the other man.

"I heard that the people from the valley were all classified as unregistered persons before the plan began. So, there should still be records kept, right?"

"Of course there are. The boss did it to cure your illness, not to harm people. The archives were properly sealed away; whether they want to restore their original household registration or obtain a suitable new identity, either is fine. After all, there will be a generous reward, and we can help certain people avoid unnecessary trouble."

Liu Hongyu nodded. Looking at the busy staff in the funeral parlor lobby, he thought for a moment and asked, "What was Master's status before?"

His master had been waiting for him all these years, so what identity could he have held? Liu Hongyu could not help feeling a bit curious.

At this, Liu Lei furrowed his brow slightly and spoke the truth.

"Actually, that part is rather strange. The first time we met Master Zhuang, he was teaching as a volunteer at Muling Elementary School, but the locals couldn't clearly explain his specific origins.

Director Zhou and our side investigated for a period of time, yet we simply couldn't find any information on him—yes, absolutely any information.

Not only was he unregistered, but outside of Muling Elementary School, the outside world has never found a single footprint left behind by him. Yet his poise and erudition could never have been forged by ordinary education. It remains an unresolved mystery to this day, which in itself is quite suspicious, isn't it..."

Liu Hongyu did not take in Liu Lei's deliberately exaggerated and leading words. He merely smiled with a sense of relief. His master probably found trouble bothersome and never bothered to pay attention to such trivialities. To an immortal being, lacking a household registration might even mean fewer troubles.

At that moment, someone walked over carrying white mourning robes.

"Young master, mourning attire still must be worn!"

Even if Western suits were omitted, draping oneself in hemp and wearing mourning garb was still required. Liu Hongyu nodded, set aside his sword case and bundle, and began to change.

Inappropriate though the occasion was, Liu Lei, who had been brimming with curiosity the entire way, finally seized the opportunity to test the weight of that wooden box. Taking advantage of the moment Liu Hongyu was putting on his mourning robes, he hurriedly grabbed the leather strap of the sword case with one hand and hoisted it up.

However, it did not move an inch!

Huh? It wouldn't budge?

The sword case originally had a net weight of sixty to seventy catties. Although it had only undergone Liu Hongyu's simple ritual consecration, it contained a bound spiritual sword within, making it impossible to describe its weight by ordinary standards.

Carried by its master, it might even feel lighter, but if an ordinary person tried to move it...

Someone not rejected by the sword might feel a weight of around a hundred and twenty or thirty catties, while someone rejected by the spirit sword might not even be able to lift it at all.

Liu Lei was momentarily stunned. He immediately put his all into it, using both hands to pull upward on the leather strap while taking care not to let the bundle resting on top of the case fall off. His face turned slightly red before the sword case finally cleared the ground by half a centimeter, after which he hurriedly and carefully set it back down.

*Thud—*

The sword case made a very faint yet dull sound as it touched the floor.

Sweat was already beading on Liu Lei's body.

Good grief, is this made of wood or iron? Is the weight really this exaggerated?

The young master actually carried this all the way by himself, looking so relaxed?

Is this something a normal human being can do?

Liu Lei looked at the sword case, then looked in astonishment at Liu Hongyu over there. Suddenly, he felt the young master had become even more unfamiliar. Then, his gaze shifted to the bundle atop the wooden case, a strong urge welling up within him to see what was inside.

Yet the moment Liu Lei's hand touched the bundle, Liu Hongyu—who clearly hadn't been looking in this direction—suddenly reached out a hand and covered the top of the bundle.

Liu Lei awkwardly withdrew his hand. Fortunately, Liu Hongyu merely glanced at him without saying anything.

---

At the Jiayun Auction Center in Zhonghai City, Zhuang Lin and the driver Leng Zhiheng arrived somewhat late; the autumn auction was already underway.

At the entrance of the venue, security guards naturally stopped Zhuang Lin and Leng Zhiheng, casting peculiar looks at Zhuang Lin.

After all, coming to an occasion of this relative solemnity in luxurious attire or various designer evening gowns was quite normal and common, but someone dressed in ancient costume was still far too eccentric.

However, Leng Zhiheng merely stepped forward, exchanged a few words with them, and presented a business card. One of the security guards immediately took the card and left.

Before long, a woman in a formal business suit, possessing a dignified demeanor, hurried over alongside the security guard.

Leng Zhiheng leaned close to Zhuang Lin and whispered, "Our Liu Group holds shares in the Jiayun Center!"

Zhuang Lin understood. The power of money was indeed formidable!

Though inwardly surprised by Zhuang Lin's strange attire, the woman showed no outward sign of it. After exchanging a few polite pleasantries, she immediately led the two of them inside.

Naturally, she also wanted to shake hands with Zhuang Lin, but before Zhuang Lin could extend his hand, Leng Zhiheng gave the woman a stern glare that made her retract it.

Inside the auction hall, the auctioneer was hosting with passionate flair.

"Three million, this gentleman bids three million. Are there any further bids? This porcelain vase is considered a unique treasure. Any more offers?... Oh, this gentleman bids three million five hundred thousand... Three million five hundred thousand..."

"Five million..."

"Very well, five million from this gentleman!"

The auctioneer was immensely excited, stirring the emotions of the entire room.

Just then, the back doors unexpectedly swung open. The auctioneer frowned as he looked over, and others turned or angled their bodies toward the entrance. They saw Leng Zhiheng and Zhuang Lin walking into the venue, guided by the woman in the business suit.

In particular, Zhuang Lin was dressed in full ancient attire. His stride was composed as he walked, his wide sleeves fluttering with an ethereal grace. Though entirely out of step with the overall atmosphere, he possessed an indescribable harmony that caused the eyes of many noble ladies in the hall to light up.

"Pardon the interruption. We've temporarily arranged for this esteemed guest to join the auction. Here is your paddle!"

The female manager personally handed over the bidding paddle and, after Zhuang Lin took his seat, apologized to the rest of the room before departing.

A murmur of discussion arose among the attendees. Some focused primarily on Zhuang Lin's appearance and attire, while others kept their gazes fixed on that direction, unable to look away...

Yet there were also those who recognized Leng Zhiheng—he was Liu Shihao's personal driver!

Anyone joining the auction midway like this had to have an extraordinary background!

The auctioneer was stunned for a good while before striking the gavel with two loud cracks to guide the hall back to silence.

"Very well, everyone, quiet down. The auction continues. For this porcelain vase, the gentleman just now bid five million. Are there any higher offers? Any at all?"

"Five million going once... Five million going twice..."

*Thud—*

"Sold! Congratulations to this gentleman!"

The auctioneer had tried his best to guide the atmosphere, but by now, many people were paying attention to Zhuang Lin—especially the prominent ladies who were not merely decorative companions. Stimulated by the novelty and his distinctive demeanor, each of them wished they could step closer for a detailed look.

This resulted in a collectible that should have fetched a higher price being snapped up by someone at a relatively low cost.

Zhuang Lin naturally noticed the surrounding gazes, but he paid them no mind. What he wanted was simply that hair ornament, to further verify a judgment that was already eighty or ninety percent certain.

The subsequent collection items were brought up one by one. Some sparked fierce bidding, while others failed to sell and were withdrawn.

Finally, the item Zhuang Lin had been anticipating appeared.

Someone carried a tray onto the auction stage. Smiling gently, the auctioneer pulled back the red cloth, revealing the true appearance of the treasure beneath: an exquisite ancient hair-pin.

The moment he laid eyes on that hair ornament, the sensation far surpassed the image in the picture book. Zhuang Lin basically confirmed it: this was it!

"Today's grand finale treasure: a gold and silver inlaid, filigree-woven peacock hair-pin!

Please take a look, everyone. This golden pin has a total weight of 16.2 grams, with a silver body plated in gold. It combines filigree and chisel-carving techniques, perfectly presenting the natural beauty of a peacock from its head to its tail feathers—lifelike and of peerless craftsmanship. The two gold and silver pearls dangling below symbolize the birth of the peacock's young...

Its exquisite manufacture and superb craftsmanship represent the higher standards of our ancient China, as well as a landmark watershed in technology and innovation.

Legend has it that this treasure may have been one of the dowry items bestowed by Emperor Taizong of Tang to Princess Gaoyang, and that Princess Gaoyang cherished it so much she even wore it while meeting in secret with the monk Bianji...

It holds extremely high artistic collection value and archaeological value..."

The auctioneer laid it on thick with praise. Hearing those stories actually amused Zhuang Lin, though upon second thought, managing to survive from the Jin Dynasty down to the modern era meant it was truly legendary enough.

"Very well, the auction now begins. The starting price is five million, with each increment no less than one million. Please place your bids!"

"Five million!" "Very well, five million from this gentleman!"

"Six million!" "Any higher offers? This lady bids six million..."

"I bid eight million!"

"Very well, this lady bids eight million. Are there any higher offers? If you can buy it for eight million, it is definitely..."

"Fifteen million!"

Leng Zhiheng's calm and powerful voice rang out. The auction hall fell silent in an instant, and all eyes turned toward that direction once more—or rather, toward Zhuang Lin, who sat there composedly.

In truth, Zhuang Lin cared nothing for the bidding; he only demanded to secure the item. Leng Zhiheng simply threw out a high price straight away to let people know their resolve.

At that moment, another lady raised her paddle.

"Very well, this lady bids sixteen million, sixteen—"

"Twenty million!"

Leng Zhiheng maintained the exact same tone. This time, no one else dared to bid.

Zhuang Lin inwardly clicked his tongue in amazement. Although the time and space were different, in a society resembling the 1990s, a value of twenty million was by no means low!

The auctioneer was the first to recover his wits and began calling out:

"Twenty million! Are there any other bids? Twenty million going once! Twenty million going twice—"

The estimated price for this hair ornament was at least twenty-five million and above. However, with Leng Zhiheng bidding so aggressively, coupled with his identity as Liu Shihao's driver, everyone knew they couldn't compete and wisely decided to show some courtesy, leaving no one else to drive up the price.

Knowing the outcome, the auctioneer could only mask his helplessness with a smile as he dropped the gavel.

*Thud—* "Congratulations to this gentleman for winning the grand finale lot—"

Just as they had arrived, Zhuang Lin and Leng Zhiheng collected the antique and left, as if their sole purpose was to retrieve a single item. Naturally, they had no entanglements with the refined beauties who had been walking toward Zhuang Lin.

On the drive back, Zhuang Lin sat in the backseat, holding the hair-pin and examining it closely. Glancing through the rearview mirror, Leng Zhiheng could not resist a playful remark.

"Master Zhuang, others handle collectibles with the utmost care, yet you're just pinching it like this. This thing cost twenty million, you know!"

Zhuang Lin smiled and made a rare joke in return.

"Shall we turn back and return it?"

Leng Zhiheng chuckled and let the matter drop, though in truth, he observed Zhuang Lin with every single remark he made.

Zhuang Lin placed the hair-pin back into the exquisite jewelry box and suddenly looked toward the driver's seat. That momentary eye contact through the rearview mirror made Leng Zhiheng instinctively look away.

"Are you guarding against me? Or rather, do you harbor some hostility toward me?"

Leng Zhiheng frowned slightly. After a silence of two or three seconds, he immediately replied:

"Uh, haha, Master Zhuang, are you misunderstanding something? Right, since we've got the item, would you like to go back and rest, or are you planning to head to the airport? That way you won't miss the contract arrangements for the Plan Valley. Or before that, would you like me to show you around Zhonghai City?

Oh, rest assured, this antique jewelry is not counted as part of your contract remuneration!"

Zhuang Lin revealed a faint smile. So he was being treated as a nuisance!

"Are you afraid your young master's illness isn't fully cured, or rather, terrified that I might lead him astray? You lot don't wish for me to stay by his side and want me to leave as soon as possible?"

Although he was driving, Leng Zhiheng's expression grew noticeably more solemn. Seeing that he remained silent, Zhuang Lin did not press further. He smiled and said:

"Rest assured, I will be leaving soon. I heard that the old Daoist priest practiced cultivation at Wangxian Temple before his passing. Take me there to have a look; there are some matters I need to understand."

With that, Zhuang Lin paused for a moment before adding:

"Once I leave Wangxian Temple, I shall be gone."

This time, Leng Zhiheng did not make any jokes, simply offering a single, straightforward response: "Understood."