Chapter 17: All of This Was Orchestrated by Someone in Secret

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Master San’s face was pale and his spirit waning, looking extremely haggard on the sickbed. He had just undergone gastric lavage, leaving him very weak. It was hard to imagine that a Qi practitioner’s body could deteriorate to such an extent. If it weren’t for illness or poisoning, his body wouldn’t have collapsed so rapidly! Could it really be the trouble caused by that bag of mushrooms?

“Master San, I’m sorry!” Sister Yan rushed to the bedside, clasping the elder’s hand, tears streaming down her face. Hei also knelt on the floor with a thud, crying out, “Master!”

“Get up!” Master San coughed, glaring at Hei with anger. “I’m not dead yet, why are you kneeling?”

I stepped forward, pulling Hei up to stand beside the bed. Master San looked at me, breathing heavily. I sat by the bedside and gently pressed his chest, helping him steady his breath.

Once his breathing evened out, Master San lightly patted Sister Yan’s hand and said, “You silly girl, don’t feel guilty. It’s not your fault. Even if it was truly that bag of mushrooms, I believe you never meant to harm me!”

Hearing this only made Sister Yan feel worse.

Master San sighed, then turned to me, murmuring, “I never expected that little skinny kid back then would survive, and in the blink of an eye, grow so big!”

I was stunned, looking at him in confusion. “Master San, what did you say?”

He swayed slightly, shaking his head. “Nothing, just feels like in the blink of an eye you’ve gone from a child to an adult.”

Tears still glistened in Sister Yan’s eyes as she forced a smile and said, “Master San, it’s been ten years.”

Master San’s gaze was somewhat distant as he nodded. “Yes, ten years.”

Yet I felt that the words he just spoke meant he had known me far longer than just ten years.

Looking at me, Master San said, “Shi Tou, I don’t have much left to leave you. But if you train diligently, those things will be within your grasp someday.

I know what you and Yan Zi have endured these years, and I’m not trying to stop you, just want to remind you:

Some people, it’s better not to find; some things, knowing them is worse than not.”

I frowned, looking at him. “Master San, do you know where my father is?”

“No.” Master San shook his head. “Like I said, if you want to find him, let him come to you.

Become a Qi Grandmaster, and all Qi practitioners will come to worship you. Then he’ll appear.

But of course, that depends on whether he’s still alive.”

My expression darkened. I glanced at Sister Yan, who nodded silently back at me.

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Master San had phlegm stuck in his throat and couldn’t cough it out, forcing him to cough repeatedly, each time leaving him uncomfortable. When the coughing finally stopped, he sounded like an old bellows, wheezing with every breath.

Sister Yan hurried to pour a cup of hot water and brought it to him, supporting his head as she fed him.

Only when Sister Yan cared for him would Little Monkey behave obediently and stand quietly by. Otherwise, neither Hei nor Little Monkey would be allowed to do so.

“I’m leaving those two in your hands,” Master San said, looking at Hei and Little Monkey. “Their scheming actually gave me an opportunity!”

Sister Yan’s eyes widened in surprise. “Little Monkey was...?”

Master San nodded and said sternly, “Not one of us. Little Monkey’s actions won’t leave a trace for others to exploit.

But that’s fine, it’s a convenient excuse to let both of them leave the scrap collection station.

Those kids won’t get much! Except for the building I left you, I’ve transferred all the other shops and donated the savings.”

It seemed Master San had long been prepared for those outsiders!

Little Monkey spoke softly, “Master, but you said those things were very important and must be retrieved?”

Sister Yan and I both asked him, “What things?”

“That painting, ‘Spring Snow on the Cold River,’ along with everything in the safe was stolen!”

“Ah?” Sister Yan and I were stunned.

That painting had only been entrusted to Master San for a few days and was already missing?

I knew there was a safe beside Master San’s bed containing his most treasured possessions.

The only ones who knew the code were Master San himself and Little Monkey.

But Little Monkey was like Master San’s son; he would never take anything from inside.

Lowering his head, Little Monkey said guiltily, “The safe in Master San’s room was opened; everything inside was taken.”

Master San snorted coldly. “I can guess who took it, but there’s no evidence.

I don’t care about the jewelry – consider it as a final compensation for their betrayal.

As for that painting, if we can get it back, fine; if not, forget it.

Especially if it falls into that person’s hands, don’t even think about retrieving it!”

Master San’s disciples were all skilled Qi practitioners, experts in their fields. There were countless ways for them to get the password, since they were so close to Master San.

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This was not to blame Master San for poor judgment or misplaced trust.

After all, people change—especially when faced with money and greed, their true nature and malice easily surface and magnify.

Moreover, if someone deliberately tempts them, greed becomes boundless, and humanity is lost!

“I will definitely help Master get it back!” Little Monkey clenched his fists and gritted his teeth.

Fearing rash action, I quickly said, “Don’t be impulsive! This is everyone’s matter; don’t act recklessly alone!”

Sister Yan asked Master San, “Master San, although the painting is an antique worth two or three million, it’s not that valuable to you. Why must you retrieve it?”

Master San shook his head, breathing heavily, and said, “The thing itself isn’t valuable, but it’s Zhao Shangde’s family heirloom, which gives it meaning.

Zhao Shangde is sly but well-connected.

If I die and the scrap station dissolves, the only respectable contact in Haizhou City is him.

If the Crippled Man runs the place well, it’ll take at least ten years to rival him.

So, if the painting is in your hands, whether you wait for him to redeem it or give it to him directly, Zhao Shangde will owe you a favor.

Do you understand what I mean?”

Sister Yan and I suddenly understood.

Master San’s actions were for our sake!

Sister Yan lowered her voice and asked, “Master San, could it be that someone else realized this and stole the painting for that reason?”

I shook my head. “At least it’s not Zhao Xiangbo! He’s now at odds with Zhao Shangde, and even this wouldn’t help mend things.”

Master San nodded and looked at me. “Right, but if they were doing it for someone else, then it’s possible.”

I frowned, recalling the person Master San mentioned earlier, feeling a chill inside.

“Master San, you mean all this is being orchestrated by someone behind the scenes?

Who dares to defy you?”

Master San snorted coldly, his face darkening. “It’s probably Fat Luo! Don’t ask too much about him.

Just stay away. That guy’s ruthless—he doesn’t spare anyone.

You’re no match for him now; if possible, avoid provoking or confronting him!”

I seemed never to have heard of him. I glanced at Sister Yan, who also shook her head.

Master San was weary and lay back on the bed. “Shi Tou, Yan Zi, wait at the door. I want to talk to those two.”

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