“No wonder, no wonder, I kept wondering why Yuanzhou was always coming to me during that time…”
“Sigh, it’s my fault for being too busy back then and neglecting Yuanzhou, otherwise things wouldn’t have gotten to this point.”
After hearing Yao Yuanzhou’s story, Uncle He helplessly pounded his chest, clearly filled with regret.
At this moment, Xu Fei zeroed in on the key issue.
“You arranged to meet this Deacon Zhikong today, did you set a specific time?”
After Xu Fei asked, Yao Yuanzhou shook his head.
“No specific time, I just told Deacon Zhikong I’m staying temporarily in Nanyang Alley and agreed to meet today.”
With Yao Yuanzhou’s explanation, Xu Fei pieced it together, now understanding why Yao Yuanzhou had taken Yao Yunxi away in that huge suitcase that day.
Then Xu Fei grabbed Yao Yuanzhou’s wrist, feeling faint traces of true qi pulsing through him.
This kind of true qi fluctuation didn’t mean Yao Yuanzhou had become a cultivator, but pointed to a worse outcome.
It must have been Deacon Zhikong, deliberately releasing true qi during their multiple meetings to better control Yao Yuanzhou and others.
This subtly altered their environment, gradually changing their physical constitutions over time.
Now, they could adapt to true qi without any training and not reject it, yet this change wasn’t enough to make Yao Yuanzhou a cultivator.
Such a method was nothing short of sinister!
Yao Yuanzhou was like an addict, with Deacon Zhikong using true qi each visit to force him into agreeing to various demands.
As for why Zhikong was now willing to negotiate as equals, Xu Fei figured the man had already gotten what he wanted.
He likely planned to pull a final con, squeezing out Yao Yuanzhou’s last bit of value before walking away empty-handed.
When Xu Fei laid this out, Yao Yuanzhou clearly didn’t want to believe it, shouting hysterically, “No… that’s impossible! Deacon Zhikong promised me, as long as I hand over the antiques, he’ll definitely save Yunxi and wake her up!”
Seeing Yao Yuanzhou lose control, Xu Fei stayed silent for a moment before raising his hand and delivering a sharp slap, sending Yao Yuanzhou spinning to the floor.
“Wake up! That weak true qi in your frail body is no different from a drug to you! In other words, Deacon Zhikong could’ve fully controlled you long ago!”
“The only reason he’s negotiating with you this time is because it’s all a scam, if you don’t believe me, just wait and see!”
Xu Fei’s words jolted Yao Yuanzhou out of his near-obsessive state.
Deacon Zhikong had indeed promised him, but over the years, the man had made and broken promises more than once or twice.
Each time, Yao Yuanzhou would fume, but after calming down, he’d compromise for Yunxi’s sake, swallowing his anger and numbing himself.
Before he could dwell on it further, a clattering sound came from the iron gate outside.
“What’s that noise?”
Uncle He looked out the window, while Xu Fei, without turning, already had a guess.
“If I’m not mistaken, that’s probably Deacon Zhikong arriving for the meeting.”
“Uncle He, let’s hide over there first, as for whether this guy’s here to negotiate or trick you, Yuanzhou, you’ll see for yourself soon enough!”
