QT- I’m Almost Died
Chapter 212. ShiJie——Song Enci
Song Rui followed Fan Jialuo at a leisurely pace toward Building No.1. He no longer inquired about the events of that year, but Fan Jialuo frequently glanced at him, seemingly worried that he might harbor resentment. Song Rui clearly sensed his probing, but pretended to be oblivious, his face tense and his entire demeanor extremely serious.
After hesitating for a while, Fan Jialuo finally spoke slowly, “Song Enci was my ShiJie.”
“Huh?” Song Rui looked at him, puzzled, then pretended to realize something and asked, “So?”
“She joined the sect before me, grew up under our Shifu’s tutelage, and was very much loved by him.” Fan Jialuo looked into the distance and began to slowly recount his story. Once he started talking, recalling the past didn’t seem so difficult for him, “Our sect is called the Tianshui Sect, the number one sect in metaphysics society, with a reputation that commands respect. Shifu is the number one person in the metaphysics society, and is hailed as the person closest to divinity. I joined the sect when I was six years old, while my ShiJie was taken in by Shifu when she was two years old and was personally taught by him.”
“Your Shifu likes her more, right?” Song Rui noticed the problem.
“Cherish her as his own life.” The light in Fan Jialuo’s eyes dimmed, and he continued, “She is a Psychic too, and her talent is extremely strong. As soon as she became aware of things, Shifu designated her as the next sect leader and honored her as the Holy Child. The Holy Child of the Taoist sect and the Buddha Child of the Buddhist sect have the same meaning, which is that person who will be able to lead the Tianshui Sect in the future. Leading the Tianshui Sect is equivalent to leading the entire metaphysics society. You can weigh the weight of that for yourself.”
“So there’s a power struggle between you and her?” Song Rui immediately denied his own words, “That’s not your style. You wouldn’t engage in pointless struggles for power.”
Fan Jialuo laughed at this remark, but his smile vanished in an instant. He shook his head and said, “It’s not a power struggle, it’s much more serious than that.”
“Competing for the sect’s most prized treasure?” Song Rui guessed.
“There’s no need to fight over it. The sect’s treasure has always been mine, and every Holy Child is a guardian of the Tianshui Sect’s treasure.”
“So you came from behind and replaced your ShiJie as the Holy Child of the Tianshui Sect?” Song Rui chuckled, “I’m not surprised at all. In your line of work, strength is more important than seniority.”
“Yes, I was honored as a Holy Child as soon as I joined the sect.” Fan Jialuo sighed, “Every sect leader of the Tianshui Sect is the strongest in the metaphysics society, otherwise they would not be able to command respect. But not every sect leader is a Psychic. Psychics are very rare, and those who are born powerful are even rarer. My Shifu was not a Psychic, but he was far more powerful than any Psychic. I once really wanted to become someone like him.”
“But no matter how amazing you are, he doesn’t like you, right?” Song Rui sensed the problem.
“Yes, he naturally prefers to pass the Tianshui Sect to ShiJie whom he personally raised. However, that’s the rule of the Tianshui Sect. If there is a Holy Child, the position of sect leader and the sect’s treasure must belong to the Holy Child, and no one has the right to object. If there is no Holy Child, the position of sect leader can be passed on to the strongest person, but the sect’s treasure must be sealed away. If there are several Holy Children at the same time, then only the one with the highest talent and the strongest strength is qualified to inherit these two things. In the Tianshui Sect, strength is always the most important thing.”
As he recalled this, Fan Jialuo’s voice suddenly warmed, “I was brought back to the sect by my Shishu. Although I am my Shifu’s disciple, in truth, it was my Shishu who truly raised and taught me.”
Song Rui asked confidently, “Is he very important to you?”
“Very important.” Fan Jialuo closed his eyes, suppressing all the fragments of memories about his martial uncle deep within his heart. He couldn’t bear to burn them with his will, nor could he bear to let them become mottled with the passage of time, so he rarely recalled them. He firmly believed in one sentence——memories would slowly fade the vibrant past.
So he carefully preserved this memory, like a rare treasure, and he couldn’t bear to take it out to look at it often.
Song Rui remained silent. He knew that at this moment, not saying a word was the most gentle and considerate thing to do.
It took Fan Jialuo a while to adjust his voice so it wasn’t hoarse, “You should know what the Tianshui Sect’s most prized treasure is, right?”
Song Rui knew exactly what was going on, “It’s those fish-shaped jade pendants you’re currently collecting. You can fuse them together, so they were originally supposed to be a single entity?”
Fan Jialuo gave Dr. Song an approving look and nodded, saying, “Yes, the jade pendants I’ve collected are, more precisely, only half of the sect’s most treasured artifact. It was originally a pair of fish pendants, one black and one white, which could be disassembled. However, since the founding of our Tianshui Sect, there has been an absolute rule that cannot be violated, those who possess the fish pendant must never use its power, nor can they disassemble it. Protecting its integrity is our ultimate mission.”
“You are a person with a strong sense of mission. I don’t believe you would take away the jade pendant, dismantle them, and defect from the sect.” Song Rui’s tone was very calm, but it was precisely this calmness that showed how deep his trust in the young man was.
“I never intended to keep the jade pendant for myself, but I did break the rule once and used its power. That one time led to a series of disasters, and it is also the reason why I am standing here speaking to you in the form of a vessel.” Fan Jialuo quietly clenched his fists and slowly said, “I used it to save my Shishu.”
Song Rui guessed, “Was it done on your own? Did you violate the sect rules because of this?”
“No, my Shishu was far more beloved by the disciples than my Shifu. He was on the verge of death, and it was the entire sect who decided to use this jade pendant. By merely extracting a few fragments, that jade pendant could bestow the power of immortality, and thus, reviving my Shishu would naturally be a trivial matter. Yet, this very decision proved to be the source of every subsequent calamity.”
Fan Jialuo shook his head and changed his words, saying, “No, it should be said that this jade pendant is the real disaster. Who created it and when it was created remains a mystery. The people of Tianshui Sect only know that it traveled all the way from the Western Regions to the Central Plains, and was eventually sealed away by the first sect leader of Tianshui Sect. Since then, sect rules have been established, entrusting it to the strongest Holy Child for protection, but forbidding its use under any circumstances.”
“It was sealed away because its power was too incredible, right?” Song Rui said in a deep voice, “If just one fraction of ten thousand or one fraction of several ten thousands of the power of half a jade pendant can grant someone’s wishes, then what can the whole jade pendant be used for?”
“The black piece governs death, the white piece governs life, when the two are combined, life and death are entirely in your hands.” Fan Jialuo said slowly, “That’s why it’s so fiercely contested by the world. Loulan, Dayuan, Wusun, Ancient Shu——wherever it passes, the people of that place inexplicably perish.”
“It represents death and disaster.” Fan Jialuo said solemnly, “Our responsibility as Holy Child is to prevent all of this from happening.”
“As long as people have greed, conflict will never be eradicated.” Song Rui could roughly guess what had happened, “You saved your Shishu, and your ShiJie, seeing that you possessed the power to bring the dead back to life, coveted this jade pendant and stole it?”
Fan Jialuo pointed to his heart, “Yes, but she only took the piece that controls life. The black piece is with me. The black jade pendant controls the power of death. If a living person holds it, they will suffer endless pain of death. She couldn’t bear it, so she gave it up.”
Song Rui’s voice was cold, “She dumped pain on you, took the part she believed to be the source of greater power, and then killed you?”
“Yes.”
“But everyone in your Tianshui Sect believes you took the jade pendant? Your Shifu trusts your ShiJie. If she had just brought the other half of the jade pendant back and said she took it from you, the traitor, your Shifu would have believed her. You took the blame for her and became the target of the sect’s pursuit. Isn’t anyone speaking up for you? What about your Shishu?”
Fan Jialuo closed his eyes and said weakly, “He died, before I died.” Some more fragments of memory surfaced, but he suppressed them with his blood-stained will.
Song Rui shook his head and sneered, “Someone like your ShiJie deserves to become a god? How laughable.”
“So she failed. Her plan to become a god was flawed from the start.” Fan Jialuo’s voice held a hint of mockery, “She only returned to the Tianshui Sect more than seventy years ago, and died in the sand dunes less than a year later. In other words, after taking half of the jade pendant from me, she wandered the mortal world for over a hundred years, searching for the path to godhood. But the ridiculous thing is, she didn’t realize that her methods not only wouldn’t make her a god, but would also take her further and further away from that path. She’s never been very bright since she was a child.”
Song Rui stared at him, pondering, “So you’ve been dead for almost two hundred years? How old were you when you died? Nineteen?”
Fan Jialuo’s cold smile was tinged with bitterness, “Dr. Song, haven’t you already read my mind?”
He really was nineteen! A child who had just come of age and hadn’t even had a chance to properly see the world died in such a conspiracy. After his death, he was misunderstood by his sect for over a hundred years and has now become the enemy of the entire metaphysics society.
Song Rui’s legs grew heavier and heavier, and suddenly he lost the strength to continue walking. He stood still and called out, “Fan Jialuo.”
Fan Jialuo turned to look at him and gave a puzzled “hmm“.
Suddenly, Song Rui pulled the young man into his arms, giving him a warm and powerful hug. He gently stroked the young man’s scalp and hair with his five fingers, conveying all the tenderness, care, and unwavering support that surged from the depths of his heart.
Enveloped by an aura as vast and profound as the sea, yet as radiant as the winter sun, Fan Jialuo was momentarily stunned. He had never known that Dr. Song, who harbored a deep abyss within, could be so warm. His unique sandalwood scent seemed to transform into a gentle breeze, brushing against his brow, leaving him feeling a lazy blankness and a soft sense of helplessness in his mind.
“What are you doing?” Fan Jialuo’s voice was hoarse.
“Comforting you.” Song Rui said matter-of-factly.
Fan Jialuo remained silent for a long time.
Song Rui looked down and realized his face was red, the rosy hue had crept up his cheeks to his ears, making him look rather adorable. Song Rui wanted to laugh, but his past memories caused a dull ache in his heart.
“Your Shifu will be coming to the capital to find you soon. Song Enci is dead, and she died trying to save your Shifu. Your Shifu will never believe your words. Even the wisest person can be influenced by subjective biases.” Song Rui suddenly felt a surge of anxiety.
This time, it was Fan Jialuo’s turn to gently pat his back and softly comfort him, “Actually, I have been waiting for Shifu’s arrival. Those things from back then are not over yet, and I must settle them completely. This is the reason I woke up. Don’t worry, God has his own arrangements.”
“What arrangement? To make you bear all the sins?”
“Whoever those sins belong to, they will ultimately fall on their head.”
“But Song Enci is already dead, so her sins can be wiped clean.”
“She won’t die. The jade pendant she took represents life.”
Song Rui asked with surprise, “Are you sure?”
“I’m sure she won’t die, and I will find her.” Fan Jialuo touched his heart, his tone calm, “I’ve said it before, God will take care of things. I’ve always wanted to know what that half-dead power that Su Fengxi and the Zhang family have been abusing is, and now it’s brought me the clues. With this seed, one day I will be able to follow the vines to find that big tree.”
At this point, Fan Jialuo seemed to be in a daze for a moment, then chuckled softly, “I sensed it. This is my opportunity. Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.”
Song Rui simply shook his head and remained silent. His only thought now was to warm the young man’s cold body. The two embraced for a while before separating. Song Rui calmly helped Fan Jialuo tidy his hair, but Fan Jialuo looked around uncomfortably.
Suddenly, his gaze froze, and then he broke into a gentle smile.
Song Rui followed his gaze and raised an eyebrow. He saw Ah Huo and He Jinglian hiding behind a flowerbed, peeking over from behind a small tree. When they realized Fan Jialuo had noticed them, they quickly waved. When they saw Dr. Song looking over as well, they immediately ducked back.
“They’re a little afraid of you. I’ll go over and ask them what’s going on. You wait here for me.” Fan Jialuo couldn’t help but smile.
Song Rui nodded in agreement.
Fan Jialuo walked behind the flower bed and looked helplessly at the two people hiding there, “Are you two that afraid of Dr. Song?”
“He smells like a demon from the abyss, covered in the stench of blood, sulfur, and metcoke, as if he would explode at the slightest touch.” Ah Huo paused, then added dejectedly, “Though today, his scent seems to have faded considerably. Just now, I actually caught the sweet fragrance of honey on him. I nearly started drooling.”
At this point, Ah Huo couldn’t help but wipe the corner of his mouth.
He Jinglian added, “I heard him call your name.”
Fan Jialuo raised an eyebrow but remained silent. Dr. Song had already called him by name many times before.
He Jinglian further explained, “It’s not just shouting with mouth, it’s shouting in heart, over and over again, it’s so noisy!”
Ah Huo described it, “Lianlian, is it like calling out to a soul? ‘Fan Jialuo~Fan Jialuo~Fan Jialuo~'”
He Jinglian nodded frantically, “Yes, yes, yes, that’s exactly how he shouted it! My head is throbbing from all that shouting!”
Fan Jialuo rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on, “Are you here to give me a stand-up comedy routine?” He asked, his tone full of helplessness.
“Ah, I almost forgot the important matter.” He Jinglian immediately took out a bank card from her pocket and presented it with both hands, “Teacher Fan, there is twelve million in this card. It is the termination fee we returned to Dr. Song.”
Fan Jialuo was surprised, “So fast?”
Ah Huo said proudly, “Of course! Wennuan Jie started a consulting company and hired us as consultants to solve difficult problems that science can’t solve. We get 80% commission for every case we solve, so it’s quite profitable.”
He Jinglian nodded in agreement, “Yes, a wealthy man hired Master Yuan Zhongzhou to exorcise evil spirits and paid him five million in service fees in one go.”
“Most of the cases involve searching for children.”
“Child trafficking.”
“Master Zhu Xiya is particularly good at tracking, and I have a keen sense of smell and am good at finding people. We are a star duo. So far, we have recovered nineteen abducted children, and one wall of our office is covered with banners of appreciation.”
“After the company’s reputation was established, we’ve received a lot of orders recently.” He Jinglian handed over the bank card with a bright smile, “Teacher Fan, please take this card to Dr. Song and thank him on our behalf for his help.”
Fan Jialuo took the bank card, but his gaze was fixed on He Jinglian’s wrist, which was covered in scratches.
He Jinglian quickly pulled her hand back into her sleeve, revealing an embarrassed expression.
Ah Huo said indignantly, “When we left the company, Lianlian’s mother harassed us and tried to steal this bank card. Lianlian hasn’t been sending her money lately, so she’s gotten desperate and her methods are getting worse. A while ago, she even brought a group of migrant workers to our company to cause trouble. Lianlian has been working day and night to pay off her debts, and she’s come into contact with the belongings of people who have died tragically several times, almost dying herself. Her mother hasn’t even come to see her once. But when she found out that Lianlian had made money, she came over and started making a scene. It’s outrageous! She’s not Lianlian’s family at all, she’s a bloodsucker!”
Fan Jialuo gently stroked He Jinglian’s lowered head and said softly, “Your power is too great, but you are currently unable to control it. This is very dangerous. If you encounter another tragically deceased spirit, you cannot be lucky enough to be saved every time. I can teach you cultivation methods to gradually control this power.”
He Jinglian suddenly raised her head and said firmly, “Teacher Fan, I want to become an ordinary person. Do you have a way to do that?”
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