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Chapitre 31

By the time they left the teachers' residential area, it was already dark. The winter night wind was very cold. Chen Kai tightened the scarf around his neck and said goodbye to Chang Qing.

"Let me teach you some ways to distinguish Qin Banliang!" Chang Qing persisted, as if he had a lot to say.

The two walked and talked for a while. Then Chang Qing started talking about spells, starting from their origins, such as sacrifices, clay figurines, and blood curses. Chen Kai felt a chill run down his spine as he listened.

"Hehehe, what's so scary about that!" Chang Qing laughed at him. "Actually, many things in the world have cause and effect. Curses are just creating your own cause and effect!"

"How can that be the same!" Chen Kai retorted. "The spells you're talking about seem to be used to harm people! Someone will inevitably lose something because of those spells!"

“But some people have gained something through magic!” Chang Qing said, “There is always a gain and a loss; this is the law of all things. It’s just that magic is a gain and loss created by humans, so it is more obvious. In fact, aren’t we living in cause and effect every day?”

Chen Kai looked at the calm man in front of him. His eyes flickered in the darkness. His words made sense, but he still couldn't agree with the theory.

“Just like this city!” the man said, glancing at the dazzling lights around him. “Human civilization has developed, and while we have benefited, we have lost natural resources and the illusion of survival. Animals and those silent plants are the ones who suffer. Isn’t this a kind of curse?”

As Chen Kai listened to him, he felt increasingly cold. The more he listened, the more sense his words made. Could it be that, according to him, everyone was living under a spell?

"And there's that fox following you!" Chang Qing chuckled again. "I wonder who traded it for, or what they used to get it, that's why this kind of shikigami is following you around protecting you!" He then waved his hand. "I'm going back now. See you later!"

Upon hearing his last sentence, Chen Kai was so shocked he couldn't speak. He knew what was following him, but he didn't know who had traded it for what.

Chen Kai suddenly felt scared. Could it be that Fei Xiao had sacrificed a lot for him? Impossible. With his abilities, there was no need for him to do that. He calmed himself down as he walked home. The night was too cold, so cold that it was frightening. For some reason, he had developed a strong interest in the calm Chang Qing. Although there was something scary in his words, hadn't someone said that human instinct is to seek out the dangerous aura in the darkness?

Chen Kai walked home with trepidation. He carefully pushed open the door. In the soft light of the room, a snow-white fox was still fast asleep on the brown floor, showing no sign of waking. A colorful ribbon was tied to its long tail. Looking at this peaceful scene, Chen Kai's eyes suddenly welled up with tears. He was to board the train home the day after tomorrow. What good was his deep affection for Fei Xiao? He was ultimately not of this world. Even if Fei Xiao would still be waiting for him after he returned, he couldn't guarantee he wouldn't leave again. Lost in thought, he suddenly sat down on the floor, feeling more exhausted than ever before.

"Chen Kai, is this what you did?" The next day, Chen Kai was still half asleep when he was woken up by a voice.

"What's wrong? Let me sleep a little longer!" He really didn't want to open his eyes. Lately, he had been sleeping a lot and his dependence on the bed was increasing day by day.

"Look what you've done to my hair!" Feixiao yanked him out of the blanket.

Chen Kai opened his blurry eyes and saw that Fei Xiao's long black hair was tied on top of her head with a colorful rope, making her look like a Christmas tree. He then remembered what happened yesterday and couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"What are you laughing at? Don't do that again, or I might cast a spell on you!" Fei Xiao said, untying the rope from her head while glaring at him with murderous intent.

Now Chen Kai knows what Fei Xiao's tail has turned into, but he dares not think any further. If the tail has turned into hair, then what has his face turned into?

Suddenly, Chang Qing's face appeared before him again. He timidly asked Fei Xiao, who was still furious, "Fei Xiao, how did you manage to get that fox that you thought of following me?"

"You know?" Feixiao untied her braid, and her long, black hair cascaded down to her waist.

"I already knew that. I heard that it needs to be exchanged for something, is that right? If that's the case, then we shouldn't let it come along!" Chen Kai asked in a low voice, afraid that Fei Xiao really did exchange it for something.

"How could that be? What did you hear from others?" Fei Xiao looked at him with a smile: "This is just a part of my soul and spirit, it was originally mine, how could I exchange it for anything?"

Chen Kai finally felt relieved and repeated to Fei Xiao everything Chang Qing had told him yesterday.

"Hehe, don't worry!" Fei Xiao walked over, patted his head with a smile, "Spells are just a crude method that humans can use, while what I know is magic!"

"What's the difference?" Chen Kai didn't quite understand.

"Oh dear!" Fei Xiao shook her head. "Let me put it this way: if incantations create their own cause and effect, then magic creates something from nothing, without cause, yet has its own effect!" With that, she waved her hand, and a flame suddenly leaped out. She blew on it, and the flame disappeared. She smiled smugly at Chen Kai and said, "I am the cause. As long as I am here, there will be an effect!"

Chen Kai watched him put on a show all by himself and shook his head helplessly. What could he say to this arrogant man? His worries were unnecessary; he seemed to have never known what fear was.

"But you!" Fei Xiao finished her performance and looked at Chen Kai with a serious expression. "Stay away from that guy who spouts so many spells, or you might get cursed!"

"Hehe, I understand!" Chen Kai agreed with a smile, wondering why he would cast a curse on me? What could he possibly gain from me?

Feixiao seemed to see through his thoughts, glancing to the side as she said, "Don't forget, the difference between you and others is that you have two souls in your body!" After saying that, she coldly swept her gaze back, adding as if sighing, "And what evil spirits like most is the soul of a person!"

Chen Kai stared at Chang Qing's cold, handsome face and emotionless gaze, and suddenly shivered. Was someone really plotting against him? Was Chang Qing an evil spirit?

Chang Qing's serious yet slightly gentle face reappeared before him. Such a calm man, how could he possibly look like a demon? Although his words were somewhat frightening, it seemed that people who studied folklore and archaeology were all like that!

He smiled at Feixiao, signaling her to relax, then glanced back at the blue sky outside. Yes, there was nothing inherently wrong in the world, but wherever there were people, there was trouble. It was best not to think too much about it.

Two days later, Chen Kai boarded the train home. Chang Qing came to see him off, while Fei Xiao remained in bed, perhaps feeling that such a farewell was against his nature.

"Chen Kai, I'm really troubling you too much. I really have something to do this time and can't go back!"

"It's alright, I hope I can help you buy genuine Qin coins!" Chen Kai was quite willing to help!

"Um, um!" Chang Qing scratched his head, seemingly embarrassed to speak.

"What's wrong? Is there something else?" Chen Kai asked, looking at his embarrassed face.

"Could you please go for me?" he said, pulling a white invitation card from his pocket. "It's a family banquet. I haven't been invited in a long time, but I can't go back this time!"

"It wouldn't be appropriate for me to go!" Chen Kai quickly waved his hand. "It's a family banquet; what am I, an outsider, to do?"

"It's alright, we're not related by surname, nobody knows me, that's why we haven't been invited for so long. You just need to come and get something to eat!"

Chang Qing spoke to him very sincerely.

"I see!" Chen Kai picked up the white invitation card, looked at it from left to right, and it didn't seem to have anything special about it. The white invitation card had purple orchids drawn on it, which was quite elegant.

"Thank you so much, I'm so sorry to trouble you. I'll treat you to a meal when I get back!" Chang Qing said apologetically.

Chen Kai glanced at the date on the invitation; it was the seventh day of the Lunar New Year. He should have time. "Don't be so polite. I've already eaten this meal. There's no need for further invitations! I'll help you find the Qin coins!" he said, waving the invitation in his hand as he boarded the train back.

Before long, the train sped off with Chen Kai in tow, leaving only a few people seeing him off on the empty platform.

Chang Qing stared in the direction the train had disappeared, rubbing his hands together as if worried, and muttered to himself, "I hope everything goes well!"

Just as she turned to go back, she noticed a man in white standing behind her. This man was far too handsome, if men could be described as handsome.

"Excuse me, could you move aside?" Chang Qing said to him with a smile.

"You're not playing any tricks, are you? Someone who knows sorcery?" the handsome man said to him with a smile.

"What are you talking about?" Chang Qing glanced at the stranger; he really didn't recognize him.

"I'm Chen Kai's friend! So I don't want anyone to hurt him!" She then extended a hand. "I've heard him mention you!"

Chang Qing glanced at the hand in front of him, hesitated for a moment, and then shook hands with him: "Hello, I'm Chang Qing! You're overthinking things!"

"Hehe, I won't tell you my name. I hope I'm just overthinking it!" The handsome man smiled, like a gentle spring breeze, but there was no real smile in his eyes.

After saying that, he turned and left. Chang Qing was still puzzled and stood there blankly, not understanding what was going on.

"Tell me, which will win, sorcery or magic?" the man asked him suddenly, turning back halfway through their walk.

“You can give it a try!” Chang Qing replied. He never liked things that came out of nowhere, including this man who suddenly appeared. In his world, everything was interconnected and interdependent.

"There will be an opportunity!" the man said, waving his hand and leaving. His white clothes and black hair fluttered in the wind, drawing a graceful arc in the morning mist.

Before they knew it, the New Year arrived. Every household was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations. Chen Kai was also busy shopping for New Year's goods with his family, sweeping away the depression he felt after parting with Fei Xiao.

After staying up all night on New Year's Eve, it was another round of visiting relatives. Every day was filled with big meals of meat and fish. By the time Chen Kai finally had some free time to give his stomach a proper rest, it was already the sixth day of the Lunar New Year.

It's tomorrow. He lay on his bed, holding the invitation. The plain white invitation looked somewhat frightening at night. It was an invitation, but the background was white and the words were written in black calligraphy, without a trace of joy.

Is it a funeral banquet? Chen Kai swallowed hard. Probably not. He'll find out everything tomorrow anyway.

As he pondered this, he drifted off to sleep. In his dream, there seemed to be a strange terracotta figurine, covered in mud, grinning at him.

The next day, Chen Kai borrowed a suit from his father to prepare for his departure, which made him look closer to a man in his 30s. Looking at himself in the mirror with a tie, he indeed looked much more mature.

"Where are you going?" Chen Kai's mother asked him curiously, seeing him busy early in the morning.

"Someone's treating us, let's go eat!" Chen Kai was already getting ready to leave.

"Are you nearby? Come back soon!"

"No, it's in the county town. I'll try to come back as soon as possible!" Chen Kai said, already running out. He needed to leave early, or he would be in trouble if he missed the bus. He had carefully looked at the address on the invitation last night, and it turned out to be in a small town near this city. If he had known it was so far away, he wouldn't have agreed to Chang Qing's invitation.

Chen Kai embarked on a bumpy journey to that strange family banquet. The scenery outside the car window became more and more desolate, and closer and closer to the suburbs. Chen Kai's heart also became uneasy. How could Chang Qing's hometown be so remote?

After getting off the bus, Chen Kai realized how strange his attire was. Everyone around him was a simple farmer, but he was the only one walking on the dirt road wearing his father's coat and suit with an air of importance.

"Excuse me, sir, is there anyone with the surname Sun around here?" Chen Kai asked an old man carrying fruit who was going to visit someone on the way.

The old man looked Chen Kai up and down, his eyes full of suspicion, and pointed to a sizable courtyard not far away, saying, "That's it, go there yourself!"

Chen Kai looked in the direction he pointed, and the brand-new three-story building looked pretty good. Chang Qing's hometown must be quite wealthy!

The old man turned and glanced at Chen Kai: "Young man, what are you doing at his house?"

"Let's eat!" Chen Kai said to him with a grin. He was looking forward to the dinner more and more, guessing that the meal would be very sumptuous for a family like this.

"Heh, it's about eating again!" The old man shook his head. "I wonder if people are eating, or if the food is eating people!" After saying that, he walked away slowly along the dirt road with his hands behind his back.

Chen Kai was left standing there, stunned. Something didn't seem right. What did "food eats people" mean? Could it be that he had been tricked into some kind of trap again? Surely he couldn't be that unlucky.

He glanced at the small building in the distance, its red bricks and green tiles standing out forlornly in such a barren place.

He walked to the gate of the house. The courtyard wall was exceptionally high, blocking the sunlight and casting a long shadow on the ground. Chen Kai looked at the gray cement wall and felt that the people inside seemed to want to live a life of seclusion. The so-called secluded courtyard was nothing more than this.

He took a deep breath, reached out and pressed the doorbell. After a moment, the deep red door opened in response.

The girl who opened the door looked to be a high school freshman. She had two braids in her hair and wore a light pink cotton coat and pants, a typical holiday outfit.

"Who are you looking for?" The little girl glanced at Chen Kai outside the door. He had a baby face, but he was dressed in adult clothes. She wondered what he was up to.

"Yes, I am Chang Qing. May I ask if this place is for people with the surname Sun?" Chen Kai lied carefully, afraid of giving himself away.

"Yes, what are you doing here?" The little girl had none of the innocence that someone her age should have; she looked like she knew everything and questioned Chen Kai carefully.

Chen Kai pulled the invitation out of his pocket. "I'm here for the banquet. I received this before the New Year!"

The little girl took the invitation and glanced at it. "Oh, you're the seventh one! Come in with me!"

"What, the seventh one?" Chen Kai asked her, puzzled, with a bad feeling creeping into his heart.

"The seventh guest I've invited, and also the last one!" she said, opening the door to let Chen Kai in, then closing it behind her. The deep red door was so heavy, it seemed capable of shutting everything out.

As soon as Chen Kai stepped through the gate, he saw two stone-carved monsters in front of the Xuan Guan (mysterious hall), some resembling Qilin (mythical creatures) and others resembling lions.

"What is this?" Chen Kai asked the little girl.

"How can you call this a thing?" The little girl seemed quite angry at his question. "Even though you're not a member of the Sun family, your mother is still a member of the Sun family, right? How come you don't know anything about this?"

"Yes, yes, yes!" Chen Kai was so frightened that he dared not say anything more, afraid of revealing something else. It seemed that this family, like Chang Qing, believed in strange things, so it was best for him to ask less questions.

"This is a Pixiu!" the girl said. "It's an ancient mythical beast, not some ordinary thing!"

Chen Kai didn't dare to answer this time. He originally wanted to ask what the divine beast did, but he swallowed his words and followed the little girl into the room.

Walking up to the two stone-carved monsters, Chen Kai glanced at them curiously. What he saw startled him; the two monsters were clearly staring at him with their round, bulging lion eyes.

Chen Kai was so frightened that he took a step back. Upon closer inspection, he realized that black stones had been inlaid in the eyes of the two monsters, making them look as if they had come to life. It was truly the finishing touch! After realizing it was a false alarm, Chen Kai found it strange. He had seen many stone carvings like this, but why hadn't any of them had eyes inlaid?

Then he thought, "No wonder it's Changqing's hometown, they're really creative. It looks much better with those eyes on!" So he followed the little girl to eat, still a bit dazed.

"You should rest for a bit; dinner will be served tonight!" the little girl said, leading him to a spacious and bright room. Inside, there was a pine wood shelf filled with stone carvings and artifacts.

Chen Kai looked curiously at the items on the shelf; they all seemed to be genuine cultural relics. He thought Professor Wang would be overjoyed if he came. He examined each item, his gaze suddenly falling on a terracotta figurine. The figurine was covered in mud, seemingly ancient, its hands appearing to be bound behind its back, and its flat mouth displaying a half-smile. Where had he seen this before? Chen Kai stared at the figurine, puzzled, but he couldn't recall where he had seen it before.