Chapter 55: Bloody

“Wow…”

In the studio, exclamations of awe came from the employees as they tried out the power of the Crystal Ball.

The Crystal Ball Qin Qing bought was, according to the seller, polished from a raw white crystal, so its interior wasn’t completely transparent, with some flocculent inclusions distributed throughout.

The seller called this a “natural feel.”

Those flocculent inclusions inside the white crystal resembled mountains sprawling horizontally and vertically.

When the background color of the System Panel was displayed, it was as if mists of different colors were rising from the mountains, soaring into the air, and circling at the top of the Crystal Ball, forming colorful clouds.

This visual effect looked even more impressive.

The Crystal Ball was very heavy.

Qin Qing hired movers to transport it to the studio.

Before that, she had a marble base custom-made for the ball, which was even more expensive than the Crystal Ball itself.

When it was placed in the studio, it indeed awed all the employees.

They all came forward one by one to test it.

Of course, most of them were misty white. When the white mist rose and filled the sphere, the transparent Crystal Ball turned completely white.

As Lu Yang, that unreliable guy, put it, it was like there was liquid nitrogen inside the ball.

So they also suspected if there was some device on the base.

After holding and turning it for a long time, naturally, nothing was found.

It was a solid sphere, but how could a solid sphere produce mist?

Oh, it was metaphysics, then never mind.

When Xiao Nian, a newly hired male salesperson, placed his hand on it, the mist that rose was no longer white, but a very fresh grass green.

He was so startled that he immediately withdrew his hand.

“I, I, I… Boss, what’s wrong with me?” He looked like he was about to cry. “Why am I different from others? Am I poisoned?”

“Congratulations,” Qin Qing said with a smile. “Green represents life, which means you’re going to be a dad.”

Xiao Nian was stunned.

“You don’t know? Then ask your girlfriend.”

All the employees stared at him.

Xiao Nian called his girlfriend on his phone, and all his colleagues watched as he was confirmed to be a father – his lucky moment.

“Wow!”

The employees were like a group of penguins watching the fun, standing in rows with their necks stretched out.

“It’s amazing!”

When Qin Qing placed her hand on it, the mist was light gold.

“Boss, this color looks awesome.”

Qin Qing didn’t hide it: “It’s Merit.”

When Merit is above 60 points, the System Panel color turns gold, and the higher the score, the richer the gold.

Her System Panel also changed color only after the Yudai Gorge incident.

The employees looked at her with admiration.

When it was Wu Yong’s turn, she gave Qin Qing a deep look before tentatively placing her hand on it.

Mist rose, carrying a few wisps of purple.

Chen Moqing’s eyes were practically glued to the Crystal Ball: “So beautiful, what does this represent?”

“This is her Talent,” Qin Qing didn’t explain much, feeling that Wu Yong would understand.

That day, Wu Yong examined the Crystal Ball for a long time.

It proved that Qin Qing’s deterrence of the Academic Faction was very successful.

No matter if it’s a black cat or a white cat, a good cat is one that catches mice and gets results.

No matter how solid Wu Yong’s theoretical knowledge was, if it didn’t achieve results, it was still equal to nothing.

Qin Qing felt that she could be a bit more carefree for a while.

Don’t ask her for the principle; if you ask, it’s because her level is higher than yours, and you wouldn’t understand the explanation anyway.

You just need to look at the results.

The result was that Qin Qing refined a very powerful magic artifact.

Her persona as a master was even more stable.

The Crystal Ball was thus openly displayed in the studio, and visiting clients could touch it for a fee.

Surprisingly, business was quite good.

Compared to fortune-telling, which is invisible and intangible and can only be heard from others, the directness of this Crystal Ball brought joy and surprise.

Qin Qing wasn’t afraid of it being stolen, but the employees didn’t know that. During the day, they kept a very close eye on it, and at night, it was locked in a custom anti-theft glass cabinet with an electronic lock that would trigger an alarm if accidentally touched.

The anti-theft glass cabinet was very expensive, and Qin Qing really wanted to say that the ball didn’t deserve it.

But after all, in others’ eyes, this was a magic artifact, so she held back.

The employees didn’t even question the appearance of the Crystal Ball as a prop.

However, a client did come over and ask, “Isn’t this a Western thing? Our ancestors didn’t play with this. Can it be reliable?”

The employees explained to the client using their own imagined logic.

“What era is this? Are we still closing ourselves off? Our boss is very knowledgeable and can easily handle Western divination. We use the Crystal Ball because it’s easy to understand. If we put out a Bagua plate, you wouldn’t understand it either.”

“Our boss is being accommodating!”

Qin Qing was very satisfied.

See, that’s how people are.

As long as you can provide sufficiently powerful results, you don’t need to explain everything.

Any flaws in past actions will naturally be covered for you by others.

Qin Qing didn’t know that on the day the Crystal Ball moved into the studio, Wu Yong returned to Baiyun Temple and reported the matter to her senior brothers.

Baiyun Temple Council Hall.

Old Celestial Master Wuxiang, with lowered brows and eyes, was stroking Big Orange Cat Feifei absentmindedly. He yawned, pulled his beard back from the cat’s paw, and said spiritlessly, “Little Wuyong, what’s so important that we need to have a meeting late at night? Hurry up and tell me, so I can go back to sleep.”

In the center of the council hall table, Tabby cat Chaichai was sleeping sprawled out, snoring softly.

Old Celestial Master Wuxiang looked at him, truly envious.

The impatient Daoist Wuwang couldn’t stand these two useless creatures in the temple. He impatiently tapped the table with his fingers, and hearing the inappropriate snoring, he was about to stand up and chase it away.

Old Celestial Master Wuxiang slowly stopped him: “Why bother with it? It was sleeping here before we came. We are the ones disturbing its peace.”

Daoist Wuwang sat down indignantly.

Unwillingly, he poked the soft belly of the Tabby cat with his finger.

Then… his eyes widened.

His finger sank in! It sank into the fluffy, soft cat belly!

And it was warm.

This was not the sensation he had expected.

With a “whoosh,” Daoist Wuwang withdrew his finger and hid it in his sleeve.

This cat was poisonous!

The Tabby cat, poked, lazily meowed, half-opened its eyes, and saw its master. It got up, stretched, walked across the table to its master.

With a “plop,” it lay down again, resting its head on its forepaws. Soon, the soft snoring resumed.

Intertwined with it was the crisp sound of chewing.

Daoist Wutun held half a bowl of fried peanuts, feeding himself one by one, watching his senior brothers and sisters, and the cats, in the room with a detached smile.

Wu Yong had long been accustomed to these senior brothers with their various temperaments.

She briefly reported her whereabouts for the past few days.

The drowsy Old Celestial Master Wuxiang finally opened his eyes a bit: “A fortune-teller surnamed Qin? Hmm… I know her. She used to set up a stall outside our temple to tell fortunes. She also helped you feed cats. She’s a kind-hearted little girl.”

Daoist Wutun put down the peanuts.

“It’s her? If it weren’t for her, my Dining Hall wouldn’t be so busy now.”

Daoist Wuwang stood up with a “ho.”

“It’s her! It’s her who made these two cat blobs you raised more popular than the Patriarch!”

Wu Yong: “…”

Focus on what’s worth focusing on, okay?!

Would she specifically ask to organize a meeting if it was just these things she already knew?

“She not only tells fortunes, but she also refines magic artifacts,” Wu Yong quickly said. “She can make a person’s qi manifest directly through the artifact. You don’t need to open your celestial eye; even ordinary people can see it. I tried it, and it’s very accurate!”

Old Celestial Master Wuxiang: “Sounds like she’s more powerful than she appears. It’s rare for someone so young to be able to refine artifacts. There aren’t many old folks left who can do this craft now.”

“She not only refines artifacts, but she also has Golden Light of Merit!”

“Then it’s good for you to play with her more often,” Old Celestial Master Wuxiang said, standing up with Big Orange Cat in his arms. “Yawn… Anything else, little Wuyong?”

“…”

Wu Yong: “I’m saying she’s very special, Senior Brother.”

“I heard you clearly. So, aren’t you, the future Celestial Master, watching over her? Anyway, she’s not a bad person. It’s enough for you to represent our temple and befriend her. We old folks should just wash up and go to bed.”

Old Celestial Master Wuxiang walked away with the cat.

Halfway, he remembered something and turned back to instruct: “Wutun, that person seems to really like your cooking. Someday, have Wuyong bring her to the temple, and we’ll treat her well and exchange ideas.”

Wutun: “…”

Suddenly, the peanuts in his bowl didn’t taste as good.

Why should he entertain someone who once literally competed with him for food?

Qin Qing didn’t know that an invitation for a meal was on its way.

Recently, there had been quite a few dinner invitations.

The studio’s intern sales associates were about to return to school, and Lu Yang suggested having a meal together before then. He had even picked out the restaurant.

“That place serves Firewood Chicken. Trust me, it’s super authentic and delicious.”

Lou Xinyue teased, “Last time you suggested a team-building event, and we encountered such a big mountain flood. Will we encounter anything this time?”

Lu Yang: “What could happen during a meal?”

Qin Qing agreed.

Firewood Chicken sounded delicious, so she asked Lu Yang to book the time and location.

In addition, Qin Qing also received a long-awaited call from Ms. Wang Xiangyu.

She was informed that the Mid-Autumn Festival was approaching, and there would be a family dinner on that day. She was asked to reserve her time.

“…”

Qin Qing was not very keen on such occasions, which she dreaded the most.

“Can I not go? Um, I’m quite busy.”

“No, your grandparents are there too. They haven’t seen you in a long time. They called the other day and said they missed you. If you’re busy, it’s not too late to just show up and then leave.”

Knowing she couldn’t escape, she had no choice but to agree.

If she had another chance, Qin Qing would have readily agreed.

It turns out that sometimes you really can’t “create busyness out of nothing.”

The family dinner was still a few days away; first, she had to deal with the studio dinner.

They chose a Saturday to go eat Firewood Chicken.

The Firewood Chicken place wasn’t in the city; it was at a farmhouse restaurant in the nearby mountains.

You could also fish and pick yellow peaches there.

Qin Qing asked Lu Yang to book a full day’s itinerary, and they went there early in the morning.

Since they were going to a farmhouse, Qin Qing also brought Mumu along.

On the way, Wu Yong was restless.

“Car sickness?”

“No,” Wu Yong said. “I feel a bit uneasy, Boss. Do you feel anything?”

“I’m fine,” Qin Qing said. “Did you not eat anything this morning, low blood sugar?”

Wu Yong shook her head; she couldn’t explain it herself.

However, Mumu seemed to have its own ideas.

As soon as the car stopped, Mumu eagerly jumped out, ready to run around. However, after getting out, it suddenly sniffed, then darted back into the car, lay down under the seat, and began barking incessantly.

Qin Qing tried to get out, but it bit her pants and wouldn’t let go.

“Boss, what’s wrong with Mumu?” Others looked at Qin Qing inquiringly.

Mumu usually wasn’t like this, and Qin Qing also sensed something was wrong.

She opened Mumu’s System Panel, and after browsing it, her face turned grim. She called out to the others who had already gotten out of their cars: “Get in the car, lock the doors, and don’t get out.”

The employees were quite obedient, following Qin Qing’s instructions without any hesitation.

“Boss, what’s going on?”

Qin Qing: “Mumu smelled blood, a very strong smell of blood.”

The farmhouse restaurant was right in front of them. Through the car window, they saw it standing quietly there. The arrival of several cars made quite a commotion, but no owner came out to greet them.

Quiet, too quiet.

Lu Yang saw everyone looking nervous and joked to lighten the mood: “They’re probably slaughtering chickens, right?”

Qin Qing took out her notebook and asked Lu Yang, “Do you know the owner’s name?”

Lu Yang was stunned.

He flipped through his phone for a moment and said, “It should be Shen Jianxin. Last time I came, I heard everyone call him Boss Shen. Their signboard name is ‘Jianxin Firewood Chicken’.”

The name was written in the notebook.

The three characters slowly faded in color, disappearing from the notebook.

Qin Qing’s face changed dramatically. She directed the cars: “Reverse, quickly, don’t linger, go down the mountain! If anyone tries to stop the car on the way, absolutely do not stop!”

Her heart was pounding incredibly fast.

Lu Yang, you jinx!