Put away your magical powers now!.

Chapter 197 [A Reward is due!] (6400)

Chapter 191 [A Reward is due!] (6400)

Live?

Living... jade?

"I forgot the exact date."

In short, during my first semester of college, I was almost out of money. During that time, I secretly studied that jade every day.

After many days of research, one day, suddenly it came to life.

After hearing what Lu Xiuting said, Chen Yan suddenly perked up.

He subconsciously sat up straight and looked at Lu Xiuting: "How do you plan to live, Aunt Lu? Tell me in detail."

"Well, one day, as I was holding it in my hand and staring at it, I suddenly heard a voice in my head."

As Lu Xiuting spoke, her fingers clenched slightly, and she felt a little nervous: "The voice asked me if I wanted to make a deal with it."

"What kind of deal?" Chen Yan asked immediately.

Lu Xiuting had a strange smile on her face: "That's exactly what I asked it back then: What kind of deal?"

After a pause, the woman continued, "It said it could grant me three wishes and help me do three things."

But in exchange, after my three wishes are fulfilled, it will ask me to do it a small favor.

At that moment, I was scared, nervous, and full of curiosity. I asked it what small favor it wanted me to do, but it wouldn't tell me. It only said that it would help me fulfill three wishes first, and then it would tell me.

So, with mixed feelings, I made a wish upon it.

Chen Yan became interested—this kind of thing was quite like a myth.

"What I lacked most at the time was money, so my first wish was to ask for wealth."

However, it told me that it didn't have much power at the time, and the extent to which it could do it was also limited. It could only lend me three days of windfall luck, and the luck I would get wouldn't be very big, but it would be enough to solve my predicament at the time.

So I spent three days going to a place far from the city center every day to buy a lottery ticket.

I visited three lottery outlets in three days.

Those instant scratch-off lottery tickets... I don't dare buy those welfare lottery tickets because you have to wait several days for the draw. The voice in the jade told me that the fortune it lent me would only last for three days. I only dare to buy instant scratch-off lottery tickets.

As a result, I won more than 200,000 yuan in three days at three different lottery shops.

Two hundred thousand yuan isn't a huge amount, but it was enough for me at the time. It was enough to cover my tuition and living expenses for four years of university.

Chen Yan nodded: "Your first wish is to make money, that's a very realistic thought. So what is your second wish?"

“I…” Lu Xiuting suddenly blushed, but then she took a deep breath: “I made a wish to it, I want… to become more beautiful.”

Well... not entirely unexpected.

Every girl cares about her appearance.

"Chen Yan, you're with Sisi, and you know Sisi very well... Actually, although she looks like me, Sisi is much prettier than me."

When I was young, I was even uglier than I am now; I was a country bumpkin.

Chen Yan thought to himself, "No need to explain, I've seen your high school photos, you really are quite ordinary."

"Back then at school, there were some very pretty female classmates, and I always envied those girls. They were always surrounded by people; the teachers liked them, and the classmates liked them too. And pretty girls always received some kind of preferential treatment wherever they went."

Now that I've solved my money problem, it's natural for me to want to make myself prettier.

"and then?"

"Then, the voice inside the jade told me that I should actually be more beautiful, but because my destiny and fate were tainted with some bad and dirty things."

That's why I didn't grow up to be the person I was supposed to be.

At that time, it didn't have much power to directly change my appearance, but it could temporarily suppress the impurities in my destiny and fate, so that my appearance wouldn't be affected by them. That way, slowly, I would grow more beautiful, at least returning to my natural state.

Chen Yan nodded, understanding.

So this is why Lu Xiuting's appearance suddenly improved after high school.

"However, it told me that it could only temporarily suppress the evil in my destiny, but it could not completely remove it. Its power was not strong enough, and it could only suppress it for up to twenty years. Moreover, in the later stages, the power of suppression would gradually become ineffective, and my appearance would slowly deteriorate."

But at the time I thought, it doesn't matter. A woman's youth only lasts a few years anyway. Being beautiful for ten or twenty years is enough. Twenty years from now, I'll be middle-aged, and if I go back to being ugly, it won't matter.

then……"

A hint of reminiscence flickered in Lu Xiuting's eyes as she whispered, "After my freshman year of university, I started to slowly become more beautiful. My temperament and appearance changed gradually, day by day. A few months later, boys started secretly slipping me love letters and giving me gifts."

In my sophomore year, when the boys and girls in school talked about the pretty girls on campus, my name would always be mentioned among them.

I also had a boyfriend in college—he pursued me very passionately. He was very handsome, could play guitar, and write articles; he was quite talented.

Chen Yan felt somewhat embarrassed as he listened to his "future mother-in-law" say these things.

Hmm... It's probably because of the power of the [True Word Talisman] that Aunt Lu would say such things in front of me.

Sure enough, Lu Xiuting seemed to realize that it was inappropriate for her to say these things in front of her daughter's boyfriend. She coughed and shut her mouth.

"So, what's the third wish?" Chen Yan asked casually.

"My third wish was one I'd been waiting a long time to mention," Lu Xiuting said cautiously. "Back then, I received so many benefits, both in terms of wealth and appearance—they were real and tangible gains. I was happy and excited, but also a little scared!"
After all, this kind of thing is too bizarre! I still can't figure out what the voice inside the jade is. All the things it did for me came at a price—and it wouldn't tell me until all three of my wishes were fulfilled.

I'm terrified that after I make my three wishes, it might make me do something dangerous.

What if it's a price I can't afford?

Chen Yan nodded: "It's wise that you have this idea."

Lu Xiuting shook her head: "I grew up doing soil-turning work with my father and brothers, so I'm naturally more alert and not as naive as my peers."

So, I hesitated to make my third wish. I even thought that if I kept quiet about my third wish, the voice in the stone would never be able to make a request to me, and then I would be safe.

Anyway, I already have money and good looks, so I don't really have any urgent needs anymore. I might as well put this matter aside for now.

At this point, Lu Xiuting sighed: "But later, after I graduated and found an internship, I knew... my third wish was something I absolutely had to fulfill!"
I... met Sisi's father.

I understand that my chance to change my destiny is right in front of me! And it might even be my only chance to change my destiny.

When Lu Xiuting got to this point, her tone was somewhat complicated: "Although I don't lack tuition and living expenses for university, that little bit of money will eventually run out. Even though I have a pretty face..."

But in this world, it's not so easy for pretty girls to do well, and I don't want to do anything that involves selling my looks.

I am a girl from a rural area with only an ordinary university education. I have been doing soil-turning work with my father and brothers since I was a child. My mother died early, I lost my father when I was young, and my brother went to prison.

At that time, I was actually very insecure. I needed a stable, wonderful life that would change my destiny!

After I met Yang Jiaming, I knew this was my best chance!

As she spoke, Lu Xiuting glanced at Chen Yan and said, "Chen Yan, you don't think Auntie is... vulgar, do you?"

Chen Yan hesitated for a moment, then said sincerely, "Aunt Lu, actually I think you are very honest."

As for Lu Xiuting's thoughts, well...

Is it materialistic? Yes and no.

She wanted to change her life by marrying a man with good prospects.

This part can be arguably described as materialistic, or more accurately, as opportunistic, mercenary, and ambitious.

But at least she didn't intend to sell her body—to be honest, it's not that hard for a pretty girl to make quick money if she goes astray.

Lu Xiuting does have a bottom line.

·
Lu Xiuting's time back then should have been in the early 2000s.

Back in the early 2000s, the aura of being a Hong Kong businessman hadn't faded yet, and in mainland China, they still felt somewhat superior.

Besides, Yang Jiaming himself is quite good-looking—this can be seen from Lu Sisi's appearance.

Young, a Hong Kong businessman, with a good family background, and owns businesses and companies in Jinling Prefecture.

These factors combined naturally make it attractive.

Moreover, if she marries Yang Jiaming, she can directly apply for Hong Kong City residency—which is another advantage.

·
"I met the company's boss, Yang Jiaming, during my internship."

I was pretty back then, and I sensed that Yang Jiaming also had feelings for me.

But it was only a good impression. A man like him, sent by his family to do business in other places, was worldly and wouldn't easily fall for a woman. Although I was young and beautiful, and he was attracted to me, it wasn't anything more than that.

My internship lasted only three months. For the first two months, I sensed that Yang Jiaming was interested in me and had feelings for me, but he wasn't very invested. To put it bluntly, I was worried that he saw me as just a casual fling.

So… I could only turn to the voice within the jade for help.”

"You made a third wish to it?"

"Yes, my third wish is that I want to marry Yang Jiaming!"

"Did it fulfill your wish?" Chen Yan asked.

"It's both yes and no." Lu Xiuting sighed. "The voice inside the jade tells me that its power is insufficient; at most, it can only lend me a year's worth of romantic luck."

Following its instructions, I burned a strand of my hair to ashes and secretly put it into Yang Jiaming's water glass when he invited me to dinner.

After drinking it, he will become infatuated with me, and this feeling will last for a year.

Sure enough, from that day on, Yang Jiaming's infatuation with me grew deeper every day.

By the end of my internship, I had become his official girlfriend. Three months after my internship ended, I became pregnant with Lu Sisi.

At the time, Yang Jiaming was deeply infatuated with me. After I became pregnant, he married me and took me back to Hong Kong.

Although the Yang family had some connections, they weren't exactly a wealthy clan. Furthermore, Yang Jiaming wasn't the primary heir to the family business; he was just a member of the family sent to the mainland to do business. So, despite the significant difference in our family backgrounds, Yang Jiaming was very determined, and I was pregnant. The Yang family didn't object too much, and I smoothly married Yang Jiaming. I held a wedding while pregnant and gained the status of a wealthy wife.

Ok.

Chen Yan nodded. This Lu Xiuting has been put to good use.

Three wishes enabled her to almost achieve a leap in social class from a poor, low-class orphan!

Considering that her cheat-like abilities aren't that great, achieving this level is already quite impressive.

It truly makes the best use of everything!

Upon hearing this, Chen Yan sat up straight, realizing that the crucial moment had arrived!

"So, now that your three wishes have been fulfilled, what is the request of the voice within the jade?"

Lu Xiuting looked at Chen Yan: "It asked me to help it... to grind off the seal on that jade!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Yan was instinctively startled!
After a moment of silence, Chen Yan asked, "You...did it?"

Lu Xiuting said in a low voice, "At the time, I also felt that this request sounded a bit ominous..."

I actually started thinking about some things, like seals or something. Maybe it's a sealed demon, and that seal is its sealing mark. If I help it break free, it…”

Chen Yan ignored these claims and pressed on, "Did you do as instructed?"

“…I did as I was told.” Lu Xiuting finally sighed. “It told me that if I didn’t do as I was told, I would be breaking the deal between us, and it would take back all three things that had been granted to me.”

So I had no choice but to do as they said.

Moreover, it also told me that it wasn't some sealed-off demon or monster, and wouldn't do anything to harm the world..."

Hmph, Chen Yan took Lu Xiuting's last sentence as her self-comforting remark.

You believe me just because I told you?
This woman wasn't exactly a bad person, but calling her selfish wouldn't be an exaggeration.

To put it bluntly, she just couldn't bear to give up the benefits of the three wishes she had already obtained.

"I used a file to grind away the seal on the jade, and as soon as I did, the jade turned into powder and disappeared."

Lu Xiuting's words made Chen Yan's heart skip a beat!
The two sat in silence for a while. Chen Yan felt his heart pounding, as if he was having some vague thoughts, but he couldn't quite grasp them. He had a vague feeling that something was not quite right.

"You didn't keep any of that powder?"

"No... after they turned into powder, they quickly dissipated on their own and couldn't be preserved at all."

It was as if it hadn't shattered, but rather melted away.

Chen Yan took a deep breath: "So, one last question, Aunt Lu, why do you insist on sending Sisi abroad and leaving Jinling Prefecture?"

Regarding this question, Chen Yan already had several possible answers in mind.

For example, what warning or prophecy did the voice in the jade leave behind before it disappeared?

For example, considering Lu Sisi's original destiny and the sound in the jade, Lu Xiuting is given the attribute of "borrowing luck." But whose luck is she borrowing?

Another example……

Forget it, let's not compare.

The real culprit is right in front of us. As long as Lu Xiuting answers, the answer will be revealed on the spot!

Chen Yan stared intently at Lu Xiuting, already prepared for what was to come. Even if the answer she gave was astonishing, he would remain calm.

Lu Xiuting's expression was also very serious. She slowly said, "I am now pregnant with my third child, and I am already three months along."

Lately, I've been feeling heavy and increasingly lacking in energy. At my age, being pregnant with my third child is actually a bit inappropriate. I just thought it was because I'm older and my pregnancy symptoms are more severe than those of younger women.

But lately I've noticed that not only my physical health, but also the number of unpleasant things that happen to me every day is increasing.

I remembered the voice inside the jade, telling me back then that my luck was borrowed.

The thought of this "borrowing" makes me uneasy. I'm afraid that the favors I received back then will now have to be returned.

I'm already middle-aged. If I were to try my luck at this point, I fear that once I fall behind, I'll never be able to rise again.

After much deliberation... I went to find a wise person to analyze my destiny.

Ok?
Chen Yan was taken aback.

A master who can read fate? This was an answer he hadn't expected.

Lu Xiuting continued, "After that expert looked at my face, he told me that my first child was incompatible with my destiny. When she was young, she would at most be a slight burden to me."

When she gets older, and turns twenty, she will become a major calamity in my destiny.

"At that time, mother and daughter must not see each other. If they do, it will be a great danger to me!"

At this point, Lu Xiuting looked tired, with a pleading look in her eyes, and said in a low voice, "I know this request is selfish, but... Chen Yan, I am, after all, Lu Sisi's mother. I gave birth to her, and I gave her her life."

Even if I haven't done enough to repay the kindness of raising me, surely I still owe you the kindness of giving me life.

I don't ask her for anything in return, nor do I ask her to do anything else. I just want to send her abroad, away from me, to avoid the negative energy of her destiny clashing with mine.

That wise man told me that I was middle-aged and my fate was already on a downward spiral. If I were to be struck by a major misfortune, I would be completely ruined…

Upon hearing this, Chen Yan was both amused and annoyed, and found it utterly absurd!

He pondered this question for a long time, but he never imagined it would be for such an absurd and ridiculous reason.

A fortune teller?!
This is utter nonsense!
Moreover, this rhetoric sounds very familiar.

Didn't ancient feudal dynasties have such charlatans? They said that two dragons could not meet... As a result, the emperor sent the crown prince far away, and the father and son did not see each other for many years, almost causing national turmoil.

This is just the talk of a charlatan!
Lu Xiuting's actions are truly chilling!

Just because of an unverified fortune telling, he's forcing his daughter to leave her hometown and go abroad?!

“You may think it’s absurd, but I really believe it!” Lu Xiuting’s eyes were somewhat complicated: “Sisi has had a lot of bad luck since she was a child, and she has indeed dragged me down a few times, which is somewhat consistent with what that expert said.”

I've encountered voices coming from jade, something that seems absurd to most people, and it's happened to me. So... it's not too strange that Sisi and I have conflicting destinies.

so……"

Chen Yan sneered, "So, if you believe this, why don't you leave Jinling Prefecture and go somewhere far away, instead of driving Lu Sisi away?"

Lu Xiuting's face flushed red, and she raised her voice, saying loudly, "I am Mrs. Yang! My current identity, status, and wealth are all dependent on my husband, Yang Jiaming! His business and company are all in Jinling Prefecture, how could I possibly leave him and go overseas?"

If I leave, my foundation will be gone! If my spouse and I are separated, or if things go wrong in my family, I will lose everything. Don't you understand?!

I don't know anything!

Chen Yan cursed inwardly.

He glanced at Lu Xiuting sideways: "Aren't you afraid that the so-called expert who told your fortune is a fraud?"

"Never will!"

Lu Xiuting looked solemnly at Chen Yan and said in a deep voice, "Since you know Elder Zi, you should know that Elder Zi is a master! And her lineage is all from the Xuanxiu sect!"

The expert I found is from the same lineage as Elder Zi; he is Elder Zi's senior brother!

No! Wait a minute!!

Chen Yan's expression immediately turned strange.

He was from the same school as Chu Keqing, and they came from the same lineage.

And he's the senior brother?

How could someone possibly tell such a load of bullshit?

This approach sounds so familiar!
"Um, wait a minute." Chen Yan had a strange expression on his face: "The expert you mentioned who is also a fellow disciple of Chu Keqing, could it be... surnamed Luo?"

"That's right!" Lu Xiuting exclaimed in surprise, and quickly said, "His surname is Luo, and he is Master Zi's senior brother. I had to ask someone to find him to help me read my destiny."

This Mr. Luo is named Luo Qing, and it is said that he is respectfully called "Uncle Qing" in the martial arts world.

Uncle Qing?

My uncle, you big-headed ghost!
Chen Yan grinned.

It's definitely that liar Luo Qing again!

Hmm, Chu Keqing broke his leg before, it seems she didn't hit him hard enough!
`
With that, the conversation was over, and Chen Yan had found out everything he needed to know about Lu Xiuting.

He then got up and said goodbye to Lu Xiuting. Lu Xiuting repeatedly begged Chen Yan to let Lu Sisi go abroad...

Chen Yan coldly replied, "You should just give up that idea. With me here, it's not up to an incompetent mother like you to bully her like this."

She was born so that she could marry into the Yang family while pregnant.

Since her birth, my daughter has been constantly plagued by bad luck, so I have neglected her ever since.

Now, because of a charlatan's unverified and far-fetched fortune telling, a helpless girl is about to be abandoned abroad...

What a terrible mother she is!
However, Chen Yan still didn't want her to continue pestering him, so he coldly said, "I'm telling you right now, that Luo Qing is a useless liar, and you don't need to listen to a single word he says!"

If you believe what I say, then believe it!
If you don't believe me, you can pack your bags and leave Jinling Prefecture, go abroad, and ensure your safety!

After saying that, Chen Yan got up and left.

·
Once on the street, Chen Yan took out his phone and dialed Chu Keqing's number.

As soon as the call connected, before Chu Keqing could speak, Chen Yan asked impatiently, "What's that good-for-nothing, swindler senior brother of yours named Luo Qing up to lately?"

Chu Keqing was taken aback: "Luo Qing? Ever since he offended you, senior, and I severely punished him, he's become much more obedient and hasn't caused any trouble lately..."

As she spoke, Chu Keqing realized what was happening: "Senior Chen Yan, has he done something to offend you again?"

"Yeah, he lied to my girlfriend's mother, saying that mother and daughter were incompatible, and that my girlfriend's mother should send my girlfriend away from Jinling, all the way abroad, so that we would be separated forever! Don't you think he offended me? Isn't he trying to break me up with him?!"

Did I cause your breakup?!
Damn it?

Chu Keqing was stunned on the other end of the phone. Her first reaction was... Senior brother has done me a great service!
Deserves a reward!

·
(End of this chapter)