The sky had brightened as the sun ascended from the horizon. with the light spreading in all sides of the world, the colors hidden in darkness were once again revealed. The sound of the wind and cold breeze can be felt all over the city. The trees rustle as if singing as the wind blows. The flapping of the birds flying from one tree and another resounds in the empty urban space. The atmosphere in the area is serene.
At some high-class condominium unit with two bedrooms, a living room, two bathrooms, and a kitchen. A 3BHK unit. In the largest bedroom, with minimalist furnishings and semi ancient and modern Chinese design.
On the huge bed covered in black bed sheets made from soft and luxurious linen, a young man who is barely in his twenties is currently sleeping.
His features were quite defined, especially those phoenix-shaped eyes that are currently close.
Tall nose, plump and soft cherry lips, and soft ears that tease someone to nibble it. His fine eyelashes were long like feathers when the owner blinks. He looks so soft-tempered and gentle as he sleeps. He keeps murmuring in his sleep he is dreaming something unhappy.
Someone suddenly knocks on the door of his room disturbing the young man who was currently in his dreamland.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
A deep yet mellow voice of a man can be heard from outside the door.
"Hua'er? Are you still asleep? You will be late for school." said the mature man's voice from the outside
Not hearing a reply from the one inside the room, the person outside could only open the door and look inside. The man who stood before the door had close similarities to the young man sleeping on the bed. Though the phoenix-shaped eyes on his face aren't as refined as the young man. His thin lips and quiet temperament exclude an elegance of that of a noble.
A pair of light gold eyes paired with grey short hair plus that slight slender yet tall figure. Wearing homely yet branded clothes with an apron on top and reading glasses to hide his eyes. He looks like a bit stern elder brother with a gentle yet silent demeanor.
Thone's long thin fingers lightly adjust the glasses hanging on his nose bridge and look at the young man on the bed. This person's eyes aren't as good as they are supposed to be.
This man's eyes squinted as he saw something uncleanly seating on the top of his younger brother's bed. It is a ghost of a lady with long hair wearing white clothes. This is a lady ghost who was left wondering but suddenly appeared in this room.
The man with glasses and light gold eyes walked towards the bed and grabbed the ghost lady by his neck.
Kyaakkk~ the ghost lady screams.
"Unclean things now even dare to follow him at home. I guess I need to create a cleansing formation at home." murmured the man in glasses as he squeezed the neck of the ghost in his hands.
KYYYYYY AAAA KKKK~ The ghost turned into a black mist as it disappeared. This man is called Xue Yan, the elder brother of the sleeping young man on the bed named Xue Hua.
"Hua'er. Hua'er wakes up. You'll be late for school." said Xua Yan as he tries to wake up his little brother.
Xue Hua whose sleep was disturbed said, "Hm~ 5 more minutes, ge~"
"It's already 5 am. You said you'll set up a stall by the bridge today."
Upon hearing about his stall, Xue Hua suddenly got up from bed but his blood rose to his head and his sight blackens for a few seconds and he fell on the bed again.
"Ugh~ my head. Blacking out~" said Xue Hua while looking like a worm on the bed. With his butt up in the air and his face flat on the mattress.
Xue Yan looks helplessly at his brother and rustles his head, "Eat breakfast and I'll send you to the bridge. Don't forget to wear that necklace so that ghost won't be able to come home with him."
"Un? Did I bring back something home again, Ge?" asked Xue Hua.
Xue Yan, who was preparing to return to the kitchen and serve food, stopped for a moment and said, "Don't worry. Brother has already sent it away."
"More like killing it. Brother does not like unclean things in the house, after all, ~" murmured Xue Hua with his bird nest-like white hair.
"Though we had left the Lou Clan and followed Mother's name, we are still someone who used to be included in a Clan of Celestial Masters. We can't help but see things that aren't supposed to exist. I don't like sharing my living area with unclean things," said Xue Yan.
Xue Hua's eyes finally returned to normal and slowly opened his eyes. It has bright gold eyes, unlike Xue Yan who had a lighter shade he had a brighter hue. Paired with his phoenix-shaped eyes and exquisite features he doesn't look like a human instead of an angel that comes down on earth.
He could see more things than his elder brother could if his brother could see ghosts and spirits. He can see anything supernatural including someone's aura. His brother's aura is a combination of gold and black. Meaning he had good merits and bad karma.
Xue Hua asked his brother before why he had a black aura on him and the answer he received is that, 'I broke a mistake once and broke the heavenly laws for selfishness.' When he looked at himself he could see a large aura of gold suppressing the black and red aura completely.
If Black means bad karma then red means life debt in short by killing someone you can get this type of aura. Unfortunately, he doesn't remember killing someone before and had always thought that maybe this was something he had carried from his past life.
"Get up now. Eat breakfast and then we will leave. I've transferred you to the school where Lou Lan as you've wished. But because our appearance is different when we are with Lou Clan he might not recognize you. Well it is better to just ignore that useless thing who calls himself as a sole heir despite not having Yin Yang eyes." said Xue Yan before leaving to go back and continue where he left off.
Xue Yan on the other hand was silent as he could still somewhat remember what he was dreaming just now.
"Ye Xiajie? Husband? System Yue? Argh~ I cannot understand a thing! Tsk! I'm ignoring this. Who cares if it is a prophetic dream or not!" murmured Xue Hua before running towards the bathroom to wash.
What he didn't know is that his elder brother, Xue Yan didn't live and was listening to him beyond the wall outside his room. The door was left open by him on purpose. The gentle demeanor from before had faded and only silent and serious temperament remains.
"He is starting to regain his memories little by little but he does not seem to believe it. Our vessels this time are cannon fodders. I need to protect him until he remembers everything," said Xue Yan before walking back downstairs.
The brothers ate breakfast together and left by a car driven by Xue Yan. On their way, Xue Hua asked his elder brother to go to the drive-thru of the cafe Starbucks ordering five drinks and 3 cakes. A Java Chip Frappuccino, one Peppermint Chocolate Cream, Caramel Macchiato espresso, and two Cafe America expresso. The two cold drinks are for Xue Hua while the Caramel Macchiato is for the elder brother. They both have sweet teeth but the cakes are all for Xue Hua to eat. The other hot and bitter drinks were something Xue Hua both gave away.
Once they've arrived under the bridge of the riverside area, Three stalls with two of them open for business. Some banners are saying '300 Renminbi for Foretelling. 100 Renminbi per talisman' and more. The closed last store is different from the rest. A single table and chair plus a huge umbrella protecting it under the sun. Like some available tables found on beaches and such. This last stall had no banners or something as if the owner is only here to play with old men.
Two old men wearing Taoist clothing noticed the incoming low-keyed yet extremely expensive black car. The sedan stopped in front of the old men and the door to the car opened revealing a sleeping Xue Hua carrying a school bag on his back and a few beverages plus a box of cakes in his hands.
"Old Man Yi. Old Man Ling, Xiao Hua is here again. Come move the table and have some coffee for the morning."
These two old men were real Celestial Masters but they played around like this pretending to be con artists. Moreover, they choose the customers they want to save and help while playing around with those who don't deserve it. One time while Xue Hua was beating up a ghost who dared to tickle him in public, it was these two thin and fat old men who helped him after learning what the ghost had done.
The jolly fat old man said, "Oh~ho ho~ you are finally here, Xiao Hua. Hurry and share the coffee and cakes." said Grandpa Yi.
"Hmp! Do you still have time to come here? Isn't today the first day of your class, brat?" said the grumpy thin old man?
"It's okay. The opening ceremony lasts for 2 hours at least," answered Xue Hua.
Xue Yan helped his little brother pull over the table and place the drinks and cakes for Xue Hua. Then he bid his farewell to his younger brother.
"I will come and pick you up again after school. Call me if you need anything," said Xue Yan. His a bit servile mannerism didn't escape the eyes of the two old men.
Xue Hua as if used to his elder brother acting like this said, "Okay, Ge~ Be careful on the road ba~"
Xue Yan went back to his car and drove away once the conversation between brothers ended. Xue Hua gave the two espressos to the grandpas before him and served the cakes so they could eat together. As soon as he sat down on the chair, Xue Hua started eating his cake with a huge smile on his face. The two old men took a sip of the coffee in their cups.
"Hm~ really black coffee is the best in the morning!~," said the thin old man. Beside him, the fat old man first eats his cake with relish. "Purple Yam cake, this is the new cake out in the store right? So delicious~"
The student beside him is eating the cake with chocolate coating nods in agreement to the fat old man's words. His mouth was full and so he didn't speak the words he wanted to say. The Old Man Ling stared at Xue Hua after enjoying his coffee for a bit.
"Brat. That man just now? Is he your real older brother?" asked Grandpa Ling.
Xue Hua replied, "Yes. We're biological brothers!"
"Is that so? With the way he treats you I thought he is your ghost servant or something," said Grandpa Yi who finished his cake in a few bites.
"But we are brothers, a blood-related one. We have the same parents…" said Xue Hua.
Grandpa Ling squinted his eyes for a moment as if he thought of something, "Hm~ Is that so? I guess this old man should do some star reading later for you…"
Confusion appeared on Xue Hua's face, "Why not right now, Old man Yi?"
That fat man laughed and answered for him, "He doesn't have the tools to do so plus the one he is trying to read is your past and current life. You are lucky Grandpa Ling's forte is Star-reading and it cost a few million to do so." said Grandpa Yi.
Xue Hua exclaimed, "Stop it old man. I might be a bit rich but I cannot pay millions for one fate reading."
"This old man is not even asking you to pay for it. Just make sure to bring coffee and snacks every time you come over!" bellowed Grandpa Ling.
While Xue Hua is covering his ears to avoid the old man's grumpy howls, the fat grandpa is laughing at them while secretly trying to steal Old Man Ling's cakes.
A fork blocked the chubby hands of Grandpa Yi and said, "My cake. Off limits~"
"Oh~ come on. Ling, give me a few bites~" said Grandpa Yi.
Grandpa Ling was glaring at him and said, "NO! Watch your sugar old man!"
"Wuwu~ Xiao Hua, bring more cakes next time~," said Grandpa Yi.
"Hahaha~ No. Old Man Ling says to limit your sugar intake to 1 cake a week. I will bring meat buns next time for breakfast." said Xue Hua then he looked at his phone screen to see the time and saw that it was almost time for his first class. "I need to go now. Gramps help me sell this please~" He passes a few yellow talismans to the old men. "5 Protective Talisman and 5 Luck Amulets. Help me sell these~"
The two old men were stunned as they looked at the talisman full of pure and divine energy. Xue Hua saw that the two were shocked again, they always have this kind of reaction whenever he pulls out some things he made for fun. But he knew it was effective as he tried using it himself.
"Old Man Yi? Old Man Ling? Hello~ are you still there?" said Xue Hua.
Grandpa Ling spoke, "Brat, how much do you sell these things? If it's too expensive no one would buy it."
"5,000 renminbi on the talisman and 3,000 on the amulet?" said Xue Hua and observed the reaction of the two old men before him. They were staring at him like an idiot. He decided to lower his price this time, "How about 1,000 each? I cannot lower it anymore!"
"Okay brat. We will sell them for 10,000 each. Go leave or you'll be late for school!" said Grandpa Ling as he shooed him away.
Carrying his backpack on his back while holding his second drink, Xue Hua happily hops away and goes to school. The two old men looked at the jolly young man leaving their line of sight and once again looked at the glowing golden talisman and amulet on the table in front of them.
"These are high-grade protective talismans and amulets that cost millions. It can be used for a month while the amulet gives abundant luck for one whole year. He wanted to sell these treasures for a few thousand renminbi?" said Grandpa Yi while closely inspecting the purple gas coming out of the amulet. "Ling~ can we buy some from the kid? It might be able to help us pass the tribulation?"
"No, these aren't useful to us. Sell it. The Talisman for 1 Mil. and the Amulet for 500,000." said Grandpa Yi.
"Do you think rich idiots would come over to the bridge to buy these? To those laymen's eyes, this Talisman is more like ancient calligraphy doodles and the amulet is nothing but a toy!" retorted Grandpa Yi.
Grandpa Ling clicked his tongue on him and said, "Who cares if it can be sold or not? If we can't sell anything, let's buy it instead and auction it!"
"Oh~ Good Idea!" said Grandpa Yi who happily wrote the quoted price Grandpa Ling had said just now.. A million for the protective talisman while half a million for every amulet.
