Chapter 4: Bring Out the Genuine Article

A popular movie titled "Under One Person," released a while ago, centered on the concept of "Qi."

Third Master says that Qi is the origin of all things, the source of life force. Every living thing in this world is composed of this energy known as Qi. To practice the art of Qi is to absorb more of it from the heavens and the earth, reaching a state of resonance with nature. This practice has existed since ancient times and is not limited to China. However, in a society overflowing with material desires, people’s hearts are restless, and it is difficult for them to calm down enough to cultivate Qi. Consequently, the world of Qi practitioners is shrinking, nearly vanishing from society altogether.

Nowadays, becoming a practitioner is incredibly difficult. Someone like Third Master requires not only innate talent but also decades of uninterrupted practice to reach his current level. Yet, rarer than a practitioner is the "Qi-Viewing Eye." It relies not just on talent and hard work, but on an innate, predestined opportunity. My left eye has been blind since birth; everyone assumed it was useless, but it has become a Qi-Viewing Eye—a sight that would make even seasoned practitioners feel inferior. According to Third Master, there is only one possibility: I began practicing Qi while still in my mother’s womb!

But how could that be? Third Master is the first practitioner I have ever met; before him, I did not even know that Qi existed within the human body. In truth, my left eye began seeing vague shapes a year ago. When I cover my right eye and stare at someone, I see a blurry figure. Unlike what the right eye perceives, this figure is composed of a mass of steam-like substance—this is their Qi. Anything they touch leaves behind traces of their essence. I have even discovered that every person’s Qi is unique, carrying their own attributes; even without color, I can distinguish exactly whose Qi belongs to whom. It is just like a trained police dog identifying a person’s scent. In reality, the dog is also smelling Qi, only it uses its nose, while I use my eyes.

Third Master once said that Qi is divided into "living" and "dead." A normal person possesses living Qi, which exists as long as they are alive. Furthermore, touching any object leaves behind residual traces. Dead objects, however, retain more residual Qi than living ones, such as tables or chairs. It is very difficult for one person’s Qi to remain on another living being, likely because the energies clash. There is one exception: when two people are particularly intimate and their essences mingle, a trace of Qi can remain on the other person for a very long time.

After a person dies, the living Qi in their body completely transforms into dead Qi. Most of it dissipates into the heavens and earth, while some, due to special environments, attaches itself to inanimate objects, lingering for thousands of years. The older the object, the denser the dead Qi. Burial sites are a prime example. This is why I said that painting was not an antique. There was not a shred of dead Qi on it; it was entirely filled with living energy, and that energy had existed for a very short time—at most, six months. Even carbon-14 dating can be faked, but the Qi-Viewing Eye cannot be deceived.

Third Master believed me, of course. Wen Liang knelt on the floor in despair, his voice trembling: "Master, your disciple is unskilled and was deceived; I have misjudged the item this time. I am willing to accept punishment, but please, do not cast me out of the school!" He turned his head toward the fifth disciple, Deng Zhiyong, and said, "Ah Yong, do it."

The other disciples’ expressions shifted as they cried out in unison, "Master!" Third Master had returned to his chair behind the tea table, asking expressionlessly, "What? Are you trying to plead for him?" Knowing Third Master’s temper, the disciples fell silent, terrified. If Third Master makes a decision, even those closest to him cannot sway him. Deng Zhiyong hesitated, walked over to Wen Liang, and said in a low voice, "Brother Liang, forgive me."

I stood up from my chair. "Brother Yong, wait!"

Third Master’s face darkened as he looked at me. "Stone, are you trying to plead for him too?"

I looked at Wen Liang. "He does not have the Qi of Boss Zhao or Teacher Haiqing on him, so they were not colluding." This was, of course, a lie—they aren't lovers, but it provided a face-saving step for Third Master. I continued, "This misjudgment occurred only because the person Boss Zhao hired was highly skilled and managed to fool Brother Liang. I implore you, Third Master, to show mercy and give Brother Liang a chance to redeem himself!"

Wen Liang looked up at me with surprise. We were not particularly close, and he had not expected me to speak for him. Third Master has always been a man of his word; pleading for him now was bound to provoke his anger and bring trouble upon myself. In my peripheral vision, I saw Boss Zhao Xiangbo sneering, his lips moving as he muttered a curse, clearly gloating. Ignoring him, I looked at Third Master and said, "I am not only pleading for Brother Liang, but also for Boss Zhao."

The room fell deathly silent. Everyone’s gaze fixed on me as if I were a fool. Even Zhao Shangde, his head covered in blood, looked at me in disbelief. Third Master relit his pipe, took a deep breath, exhaled, and squinted at me without a word.

Zhao Xiangbo lashed out at me, "Stone, don't think that just because you have some bullshit Qi-Viewing Eye you can be insolent in front of my master! Who knows if it’s real or if you’re just bluffing? Never mind whether Liangzi was colluding with them, this Zhao Shangde owes my master two million. You still want to plead for him? How much did this guy pay you?"

I did not know what connection Zhao Xiangbo had with this Boss Zhao, or he wouldn't have vouched for him to borrow money from Third Master. But I did know that if Boss Zhao failed to pay, the person who most wanted to distance himself—the one who would wish for Boss Zhao’s death—was undoubtedly Zhao Xiangbo.

Third Master glanced sideways at Zhao Xiangbo. "What? Are you implying that I am senile and am just gilding Stone’s reputation?"

Zhao Xiangbo’s expression changed. He lowered his head and said, "Master, that’s not what I meant..."

"Then shut your mouth!" Third Master scolded, then turned to me. "Stone, what are you trying to do?"

I looked at him. "Give me one day, Third Master. Brother Liang and I will make Boss Zhao pay back the two million. This debt can be recovered!"

Third Master stared at me intently. After a long moment, he exhaled a puff of smoke. "I cannot wait a day. By seven o'clock tonight, if Zhao Shangde cannot repay my money, he dies, you become crippled, and Liangzi is finished." He pointed his finger at Boss Zhao, then me, then Liangzi in turn, and waved his right hand. "You may take them and leave."

"Thank you, Third Master!" I bowed to him, walked over to Wen Liang, helped him up, and looked at Zhao Shangde. "Boss Zhao, let’s go."

Zhao Shangde scrambled up in a panic, ignoring even Teacher Haiqing, and stumbled out the door. Who in the underworld of Haizhou does not know what kind of man Third Master is and how he operates? If he stayed any longer, he would be lucky to leave with his life!

Once we were outside the bungalow, Zhao Shangde lowered his voice and cursed at me, "Are you fucking sick? Where am I supposed to get two million in half a day?"

Wen Liang also looked at me with a grim face. "Stone, thank you for speaking up for me. But this delaying tactic won't work on Third Master. Boss Zhao cannot leave Haizhou!"

I smiled slightly and looked at Zhao Shangde. "Boss Zhao, we’ve reached this point. Why don't you bring out the real piece?"