Chapter 310 - 309: Inviting the Wolf into the House

Words : 1303 Updated : Oct 3rd, 2025

Chapter 310: Chapter 309: Inviting the Wolf into the House Teng Tianhan could hardly believe his own ears, his brow furrowed as he looked at Qin Liuxi, trying to figure out if her words were a test or just a playful jest with her son. Go with her? He had clearly invited a fated person to diagnose his son, but now why did he feel like his son was about to be abducted? Like inviting a wolf into the house! That term popped into Teng Tianhan’s mind. As he was lost in his wild thoughts, Teng Zhao and Qin Liuxi were looking eye to eye, and Teng Zhao said the first three words since they’d met: "Go with you?" Qin Liuxi nodded. Teng Tianhan and Mr. Qi were stunned, because Teng Zhao actually questioned a stranger, which was beyond their expectation, believing that him simply giving Qin Liuxi a proper look was already good. But not only did he look, but he allowed her to touch him without losing his temper, and now he was even questioning the stranger’s words. "Where to?" Qin Liuxi replied, "Naturally as my apprentice, wherever I go, you will go." Teng Tianhan’s vision darkened, he wanted to speak but Mr. Qi held him back, shook his head, and mouthed the words ’Let’s see more’. Watch more, and the son will be gone. He looked at Teng Zhao, thinking that his son might think Qin Liuxi was fooling around with nonsense. But with one look, Teng Zhao was slightly tilting his head as if seriously considering. Teng Tianhan’s heart trembled. Teng Zhao was seven years old, and this was the first time he showed such an expression in front of a stranger, genuinely considering Qin Liuxi’s suggestion. Qin Liuxi picked up a piece of paper from beside the kang, didn’t take scissors, just started folding it, her hands skillful, and soon a paper crane was made. With a gesture, she silently recited a spell, cast it on the paper crane, and even theatrically blew on it, and the paper crane actually fluttered its wings and took flight. Teng Zhao’s eyes widened, Mr. Qi had never taught such things. And Mr. Qi and Teng Tianhan’s breathing paused slightly, the paper crane, came to life. Is this the kind of divine skill that Xuanmen Taoists possess? Mr. Qi looked at Qin Liuxi with a bit of reverence. Teng Tianhan was closely watching his son’s facial expression, seeing a gleam in his eyes, he inwardly felt like roaring. Nowadays, child abductors are shameless, not satisfied with candy, but using such divine skills to lure. Teng Tianhan glared at Qin Liuxi with disapproval, feeling a hint of regret inside. The so-called person of fate, is it to abduct his only son as an apprentice? Master Ci Yun deceived me! Teng Zhao reached out, the paper crane landed on his hand, he turned it left and right, trying to see where the mechanism was, but when he unfolded the paper crane, it was still just a piece of paper. Following Qin Liuxi’s steps, he folded the paper crane back, even mimicking her mantra gestures. His movements were clumsy, but the steps were correct. Qin Liuxi’s eyes gleamed. She had found a treasure. This child was definitely the apprentice to inherit her mantle! Even though Teng Zhao performed the mantra gestures without errors, he didn’t know the purpose of the spell, naturally, he couldn’t endow the paper crane with life. After blowing several breaths, the paper crane didn’t fly, and he grew a bit impatient. "It’s useless, you must know the spell in order to cast it on him," Qin Liuxi said. Teng Zhao looked up at her, urging her to speak. "Only my disciples can learn it," Qin Liuxi feigned a stern tone. "This is a secret not passed down from our master." Teng Zhao blinked. Teng Tianhan couldn’t stand it anymore. He stepped forward and interrupted, saying, "Master, didn’t you intend to check his pulse? Zhao’er, extend your hand and let the master diagnose you." Qin Liuxi gave him a glance, a half-smile on her face, yet she did not expose him; after all, Teng Zhao could only be her disciple. Teng Zhao lacked interest in being diagnosed, yet he did not resist, as though accustomed to it, and after a momentary pause, he extended his hand. He stared at his wrist, watching Qin Liuxi’s fingers, which were pressed on his pulse, without blinking. They sat facing south, and on this fine day, the morning sunlight streamed through slightly opened windows, casting light upon her hands, making her slender and refined fingers appear even more pearly white. Beautiful fingers. Teng Zhao lowered his gaze, focusing on his own fingers, grateful that they were not bad either. Qin Liuxi took her time checking Teng Zhao’s pulse, carefully checking both wrists before making a mental note and withdrawing her fingers. Teng Tianhan had been fixedly observing her expression; seeing no particular reaction, he couldn’t help but ask, "How is my child?" "He was premature, wasn’t he? The yuan qi from the womb was insufficient, his pulse is weak and deep, a deficiency from inside the womb; he has qi and blood deficiency and weak kidney yang, and he’s been overly delicately cared for," Qin Liuxi said, looking at Teng Zhao’s slightly yellowish hair. "He’s lazy and seldom leaves his room, rarely seeing sunlight; this is detrimental to his health." "So according to your opinion, how should we treat him?" "This isn’t precisely an illness; it’s a congenital weakness that requires prolonged nourishment and exercise," Qin Liuxi said. "But it’s no trouble, as long as he follows me, growing up healthy, enduring, and strong won’t be a problem." Teng Tianhan’s mouth twitched, then, restraining himself, he said, "Master, may I have a word with you." Qin Liuxi knew what he wanted to discuss, so she patted Teng Zhao’s head and said, "Think carefully about what I said." Teng Zhao remained silent and started fiddling with the chessboard again. Teng Tianhan led Qin Liuxi to the next room to talk. After a servant brought a cup of tea, he grabbed it and took a sip, saying, "Master, the child has been weak since birth, introverted, but fortunately, our family has means enough to support him without need for labor. Given his condition, he’s hardly fit to serve your Grandmaster; please don’t joke about it anymore." "Sir, you speak amiss." "Oh?" Could he have misunderstood? "Not to serve the Grandmaster, but to serve me as his master," Qin Liuxi said. Teng Tianhan turned pale: "Master." Being an experienced official, his face bore an authority as he spoke. Yet Qin Liuxi was fearless, merely smiling and saying, "Sir, didn’t I mention to you that you and the boy share a thin paternal bond?" Teng Tianhan stiffened, his face darkening, "Don’t tell me you planned this all along?" To talk of a thin bond was basically to suggest taking the child away. "What counts as planning? Waiting by the roadside for me, was that not you, sir? Was it not you who heard Master Ci Yun declare I was the person predestined to be invited over?" "I invited you to treat the boy, not to coax him into Enlightenment, to become your disciple," Teng Tianhan nearly shouted, losing regard for his stature. "But in truth, I am the person you sought, having a predestined relation as disciple and master with Teng Zhao." "That’s impossible, I cannot let him follow this path." Qin Liuxi laughed again, asking, "What precisely did you wish for? Did you wish Teng Zhao to be a normal noble’s son like yourself, studying hard, taking the imperial examination, marrying and having children, or just for him to be safe and prosperous?" Reality weighed on Teng Tianhan.

Chapter 310 - 309: Inviting the Wolf into the House

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