Chapter 199 - 161 Buddhist and Taoist Twin Souls_3

Words : 1081 Updated : Sep 27th, 2025

Chapter 199: Chapter 161 Buddhist and Taoist Twin Souls_3... Liu Qingguang hobbled forward, his gait crooked and awkward. After fleeing from the Spiritual Snake of the Ancient Tattoo Clan, Si Ming punished him by stabbing a golden pen into his thigh. The injury on his leg had yet to heal, and even walking remained difficult for him. Today, he was once again summoned to the Si Mansion by Housekeeper Bai, and unease churned in his heart as he feared Old Master Si might be looking to give him trouble again. When Housekeeper Bai informed him it wasn’t a punishment but a task for him to complete, his anxiety finally settled. But as soon as Liu Qingguang walked into the Blessing Hall and locked eyes with Zhou Xuan, an icy sweat began erupting on his forehead. For survival as a thief, sharp observational skills and a keen memory were vital, and Liu Qingguang naturally remembered exactly who Zhou Xuan was! "Isn’t this... isn’t this the man from the train station, the one with the wallet swiped by Blue Eyes?" Liu Qingguang’s heart thumped like a drum. "Young Master, I’ve brought Old Liu to you," Si Ming greeted Zhou Xuan warmly. Noticing Si Yuer’s bright smile, he added, "Young folks find common ground easily, eh? Seeing how Yu Er’s glowingly radiant, you must have had quite the enjoyable conversation." Si Yuer pointed at Zhou Xuan and said, "Brother Zhou is a great guy." "Mostly because Yu Er... Miss Si happens to be wonderfully engaging," Zhou Xuan echoed. The more Zhou Xuan, Si Yuer, and Si Ming talked and laughed together, the higher Liu Qingguang’s uneasiness climbed into his throat. He feared Zhou Xuan might have come after him for the matter of the stolen wallet at the train station. If that were true, Liu Qingguang was certain his other leg would not remain unscathed. "Old Liu, long time no see since the train station. It’s been a while," Zhou Xuan said, addressing Liu Qingguang. Liu Qingguang was instantly frightened, his face turning ashen-gray. He knew all too well the methods employed by Master Si. "You and Old Liu, know each other?" Si Ming turned to Zhou Xuan and asked. "We bumped into each other at the train station once. As for Old Liu... well..." Liu Qingguang felt his knees trembling violently. "... a man of great honor and integrity." "Whew!" Liu Qingguang heaved a long breath of relief hearing Zhou Xuan’s comment. A sense of joy flooded through him, as if he’d been reborn. "Young Master, you overpraise," Liu Qingguang quickly bowed deeply to Zhou Xuan. With a smile, Zhou Xuan said, "Old Liu, you’ve got a remarkable skill. Your sharp eye has left a lasting impression on me. At Master Si’s behest, I’ve summoned you so you can help me and Miss Si take a closer look." Liu Qingguang straightened his back considerably. If it wasn’t punishment, helping out wasn’t a problem—not even ten tasks would faze him. He carefully asked, "If I may be so bold, Young Master, how exactly would you like me to ’take a look’?" "Inspect our backs," Zhou Xuan responded. "I keep feeling like there’s something uncanny resting on both of ours." Liu Qingguang hesitated, not because he feared failing to see anything, but because he dreaded seeing something troublesome on Miss Si’s back that might sour Master Si’s mood—dragging him down with it. "My eyes... carry an ill aura. To look at Young Master and Miss Si’s backs, I fear that..." "You’ll look as you’re told! Stop making excuses!" Si Ming scolded him sharply. "Take a look—and whatever you see, I won’t blame you for it." Only then did Liu Qingguang fix his gaze on Zhou Xuan, using his right eye—a heavy pupil. The heavy pupil, also known as dual pupils, presents two irises within a single eyeball. A rare and innate trait, it grants its possessor the ability to see inexplicable phenomena, making it a coveted gift. However, Liu Qingguang’s heavy pupil was less than appealing, with one iris big and the other small, resembling a gourd. The longer he focused, the more intense his concentration grew. The whites of his right eye began to cloud with blood. The blood spread like ripples, staining his entire right eye crimson, while the gourd pupil emitted a strange, eerie light. "I see it—on Young Master’s back is a Taoist." "What does the Taoist look like?" Zhou Xuan asked. "A scruffy goatee, a face exuding warmth..." Liu Qingguang struggled to find the right words to describe the Taoist’s appearance. "Words won’t help much! Sketch it out!" Si Ming cut in harshly. He handed Liu Qingguang a twist-cap pen and a small pocket notebook. Liu Qingguang accepted the pen and began drawing, alternating between glancing at Zhou Xuan’s back and sketching on paper. People with the ability to see "extraordinary phenomena" often excel in drawing—not due to inherent talent, but through frequent practice capturing the unusual things they witness. Over time, their drawing skills naturally improve. Furthermore, they possess an edge even trained artists lack—they depict exactly what they see, with no artistic alterations. Their illustrations are objective and believable. Stroke by stroke, Liu Qingguang outlined the Taoist in his notebook. As the model, Zhou Xuan demonstrated admirable patience, keeping still and avoiding movements that might interrupt Liu Qingguang’s work. Si Ming didn’t feel compelled to stay motionless, comfortably leaning in beside Liu Qingguang, slightly bent forward, as he peered at the sketch. The early part of the drawing focused on the Taoist’s facial structure, which didn’t seem overly remarkable to Si Ming. His examination was almost playful, simply joining the commotion. Yet, as the Taoist’s facial features emerged bit by bit, Si Ming’s expression took on evident intrigue. He murmured in astonishment, "How is it looking more and more like him?" "Who is ’him’?" Zhou Xuan overheard and asked. Si Ming didn’t rush to answer. Only when the full portrait of facial features was complete did he respond. "This Taoist... this is... Qiye Temple’s former top monk—Monk Zhu Jiu!" "Master Si, the figure on my back is a Taoist, not a monk," Zhou Xuan corrected him. Si Ming shook his head and said, "The Taoist on your back, except for the hairstyle and bushier eyebrows, looks exactly like Monk Zhu Jiu. Our former Hall Master was devoutly Buddhist and frequently donated incense money at Qiye Temple. I’ve been to Qiye Temple so many times I’ve lost count.

Chapter 199 - 161 Buddhist and Taoist Twin Souls_3

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