Translator: _Min_
Highly conspicuous, the character on the box wasnât written in modern simplified script but in an ancient style.
The Great Xia Empire had a long history, spanning over five thousand years.
The script alone had evolved complexly over the millennia, not standardized until the reign of Emperor Yin, after which it had gradually simplified.
However, some ancient scripts had been preserved and studied by linguistic scholars.
Zuo Xianyu, as a carefully cultivated elite of the Zuo family, had been trained in classical Chinese studies in addition to business management.
The ancient script was common during the reign of Emperor Yin, and she recognized it.
In Zuo Qingyaâs eyes, however, it was merely a strange pattern.
âSecond Sister, what kind of garbage did Si Fuqing buy?â Zuo Qingya scoffed.
âTwenty billion in her hands, and sheâs wasting it.â
âNonsense,â Zuo Xianyu frowned, icily retorting, âWhat do you know about the strange pattern you mentioned?â
Confused and slightly hurt, Zuo Qingya asked, âSecond Sister, why are you scolding me?â n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
âBe quiet!â Zuo Xianyu snapped, her thoughts chaotic.
The three major families of the Great Xia Empire were household names. Yet, whether it was the MO family or the Ji family, they operated at a level beyond their reach.
Even the Yu family, the leading household of the city of Sijiu, needed the MO familyâs permission to enter the Central Plains. Where did that leave the Zuo family of the city of Lin?
The Ji family had been secluded for a century, its influence waned almost to nothing. But how weak could they be, given their status as an aristocratic family?
Zuo Xianyu pondered whether Si Fuqing, during her two years abroad, could have possibly come into contact with anyone from the Great Xiaâs Ji family.
The answer seemed improbable.
More likely, some online seller had lifted the image and printed it on the packaging.
Reassured, Zuo Xianyu exhaled slowly, her frosty demeanor returning. âLetâs go.â
Stomping her foot, Zuo Qingya gave Si Fuqing one last resentful glance before reluctantly following.
Si Fuqing removed the outer packaging, tore it to shreds, and tossed it into a trash bin.
Inside the box were ten talismans sent by Ji Xingzhi, each tucked into a sachet for easy carrying.
Si Fuqing pocketed one and made her way leisurely to the back parking lot. She quickly found Yu Xihengâs car and climbed in.
Yu Tang, in the passenger seat, turned around and reached out tearfully.
âQingqing, look at how mean Uncle Nine is, separating us again.â
Si Fuqing extended one hand to comfort her, while the other was busy replying to a message.
[Ji]: Did you get it? Did you get it? Big bro, send a reply!
[NINE]: Got it. Can you hide your seal a bit?
[Ji]: Thatâs an anti-counterfeit mark. Itâs imbued with my Yin-Yang energy. If anyone tampers with it, Iâll know.
[Ji]: Think about it, Iâm so awesome. What if someone steals the talismans I sent you?
Si Fuqing:
She glanced silently at the box in her hand, which had âClearance Sale, Big
Clearance Saleâ printed on it, along with a slogan that read, âEvery village has Kidney Treasure, life is so beautiful.â
Who would steal a package like this?!
She even felt like throwing it away.
[Ji]: Remember we promised to play the game together? Iâm almost done with my stuff. The new dungeon in the game will be online on April 3rd. Our slogan is: First Kill, First Kill, First Kill!
First Kill was a prestige title in the globally popular 3D online game âOracle,â awarded only to the first team to clear a new dungeon.
With a billion players worldwide, earning a First Kill was undoubtedly a herculean task.
Si Fuqing ignored him and closed the chat window.
She stashed the box behind her.
However, she couldnât hide it from Yu Xiheng, who sat opposite her.
His light amber eyes flickered as they settled on her hands. Suddenly, they darkened like a setting sun, unfathomable and deep.
âKidney Treasure?â Yu Xiheng rested his elbow on the armrest, his tone casual.
âYou drink that?â
Feng San almost stepped on the accelerator thinking it was the brake, stopping just in time, breaking into a cold sweat.
Yu Tangâs mouth gaped open in shock. âQingqing, are you saying you have weak kidneys?! â
Her expression suggested sheâd unraveled some grand truth.
Ji Xingzhi, youâre done for.
Prepare to face my retribution.
Meanwhile, far away in Eastern Mulberry , Ji Xingzhi sneezed and shivered.
He wrapped himself in his coat and looked around suspiciously. âNo oneâs scheming against me, how strange.â
As a Master of Yin-yang, his senses were naturally sharp. Moreover, his familiars relayed information to him, helping him evade many dangers.
So why did he suddenly feel so uneasy?
Ji Xingzhi touched the goosebumps on his arm and hummed softly. âIt must be those Eastern Mulberry people, plotting something against me.â
Putting on sunglasses and a straw hat, he walked into the sunshine and finally felt more at ease.
In the evening.
Linâs First Hospital.
The operating roomâs door opened with a âding,â and the attending doctor stepped out.
Upon seeing this, Zuo Tianfeng hurried over. âDoctor, howâs my brother?â He had rushed over as soon as he received the call about his brotherâs critical condition.
âIâm truly sorry,â the attending doctor wiped his sweat. âThe patientâs health was already⦠depleted, and he had been issued a critical illness notice before.â
He paused, adding, âHonestly, him surviving up to this point was already miraculous. He should have cherished his health.â
The fourth-ranked Zuo had been a frivolous man, prone to indulging in women.
It was not till that the Old Master Zuo forcefully arranged a marriage for him did he barely stop his affairs.
However, it was not longer after his marriage that he started to go back to his old ways, often not returning home and intoxicated with women and substances.
He had been hospitalized multiple times but always managed to recover.
Zuo Xianyu found it rather peculiar that her Fourth Uncle had managed to survive until now.
âTalking about it now serves no purpose,â Zuo Tianfeng furrowed his brows, âCan he still be treated?â
Fourth Uncle Zuo was, after all, his own flesh and bloodâa brother born from the same mother. Zuo Tianfeng couldnât afford to be entirely heartless.
Of course, the main reason for his concern was that his younger brother was unskilled and utterly clueless about business, posing no threat to him whatsoever.
âIâm sorry, the physical damage is irreversible,â the attending physician shook his head. âHad he heeded advice and taken better care of himself back then, he could have lived a few more years.
Zuo Tianfeng slammed his hand against the wall, gritting his teeth. âThis is absurd!â
It had been less than a month since their father passed away, and now another calamity had befallen the Zuo family.
âHowever,â the attending doctor spoke up, âI do recall something. Just a few days ago, the cardiology department had a patient who suffered a sudden heart attack. She was beyond saving, but someone performed emergency first aid, and she was revived.â
âWould you like me to contact the cardiology department to see if they can help
with a heart transplant?â