Chapter 32: Green Bamboo Manor
From around 1 PM to 7 PM, Lin Feng and Nie Chuxia spent six hours straight at the tailor shop without leaving.
The clothes were newly made and needed time to be completed. Nie Chuxia chatted with the elderly lady, while Lin Feng simply sat beside them. They talked for hours, mostly about everyday life. The old lady's mind was remarkably sharp, and she shared many family stories: her son wandering about, her granddaughter's hardships, her husband lacking humor, and so on.
She even mentioned Nie Chuxia's grandfather, Nie Lao Xian'er.
Nie Chuxia's grandfather had always stayed within the Qixing Palace and never left. Lin Feng had heard Nie Chuxia mention Qixing Palace before, though he wasn't clear on what it was. It sounded prestigious, and Nie Chuxia's grandfather's title suggested the same.
"Lao Xian'er?"
Without some real skill, who would dare to call themselves that?
The old lady chatted until a bit past 5 PM before retiring to rest. Seizing the opportunity, Lin Feng finally spoke up.
"Nie Chuxia, what's this tailor shop really about?"
Lin Feng felt this shop seemed more mysterious than a mission map.
Nie Chuxia shrugged and replied, "Honestly, I'm not entirely sure either. But the grandparents who run this place hold extremely high status. They seem to have intricate ties to the Southern Sect. Even my grandfather, who is exceptionally aloof and proud, shows them respect."
Lin Feng decided not to press further. Museum Director Wang had once casually mentioned that many people in Nanyang were involved in something called the Path of Life and Death , not easy to befriend but dangerous to provoke. When Lin Feng asked what the Path of Life and Death was, Director Wang didn't explain, only saying their funeral home was considered part of it.
Now, it seemed this old lady and the tailor were likely in the same category.
"I heard you mention something about the 'Southern Sect Dao Assembly.' What is that, some kind of Daoist metaphysics research conference?" Lin Feng changed the subject.
Nie Chuxia scoffed, "Metaphysics research conference, my foot! The Southern Sect Dao Assembly is a grand event for the Southern Sect. It's held once every 12 years. Think of it as a meet-and-greet for newcomers—a chance to get to know one another, strengthen connections, and help each other out in the future."
The two of them chatted idly back and forth. Before they knew it, it was already 7:30 PM, and the sky outside was darkening. The old tailor finally emerged from the back room, wearing his reading glasses.
He held a set of clothes in his hand, including a pair of loose shorts and cloth shoes.
"Young man, go take a bath in the backyard and change into these clothes to see if they fit," the old tailor said while pulling out a snuff bottle and inhaling with great satisfaction.
Lin Feng took the clothes and headed to the backyard, where he discovered a hot spring. The spring wasn't small either.
He'd never heard of a natural hot spring within the city limits. Judging by this, if someone were to sell this tailor shop, 6 million yuan wouldn't even cover it!
What a treasure trove!
He enjoyed a luxurious bath in the hot spring. It didn't have an overwhelming sulfur smell, making it incredibly soothing. After the bath, he changed into the new clothes. Lin Feng felt indescribably comfortable.
He'd never worn such perfectly fitting clothing before. The tailoring was flawless. From the undergarments to the inner lining to the shoes, every layer fit perfectly. The fabric felt extraordinary against his skin, almost as if his muscles could breathe. There wasn't the slightest hint of discomfort or stuffiness.
Amazing!
Lin Feng was deeply impressed. No wonder Nie Chuxia specifically brought him here. This old tailor's craftsmanship could rival, if not surpass, that of European royal designers.
Lin Feng walked back with a spring in his step, feeling as if he were floating. He looked quite pleased with himself.
Seeing him, Nie Chuxia commented, "Not bad at all."
Lin Feng now resembled a grandmaster—young and accomplished. Looking in the mirror, he had never seen himself looking so sharp.
"I think so too! Heh, grandpa, this outfit must be expensive, right?" Lin Feng asked cautiously. He wasn't used to wearing such high-end clothes. Having grown up poor, even when he had money, he only dared to buy entry-level branded clothing. Clothes of this caliber were something he never even dreamed of.
The old tailor chuckled without answering. Nie Chuxia replied instead, "Not expensive. Grandpa is a senior within our circle. It's a great discount for one of our own—18 bucks."
"18 bucks? That cheap?"
"That's 18 gold ingots , you cheapskate. Get out of the way," Nie Chuxia snapped.
With a flip of her hand, Nie Chuxia produced a heavy cloth bag containing 18 thumb-sized gold ingots.
Lin Feng's eyes widened, his head spinning. That's practically a house gone!
Suddenly, a system notification popped up.
"Ding! Congratulations, you have obtained the magical artifact Floating Cloud Robe ."
Description:The Floating Cloud Robe belongs to the water element, capable of gathering yin spirits. It is an essential protective garment for ghost hunters.
Attributes: Yin Spirit +200
Skill: Cloud Ripple
Skill Description: Upon activation, it releases spirit clouds based on consumed yin spirit points, repelling nearby targets.
Floating… Floating Cloud Robe?
A magical artifact?
And it comes with skills?
Lin Feng was dumbfounded.
"Grandpa, we'll be heading off now. Grandma mentioned you'd be attending tonight, so we'll see you there!" Nie Chuxia said.
"Alright, girl, drive safely!" the old tailor waved and reminded her.
---
This was Lin Feng's first magical artifact. Although it was defensive in nature, his excitement was beyond words.
A magical artifact!
Even the cheapest ones in the Fierce Ghost Marketplace cost 2,000 merit points. This one dropped out of nowhere, like a pie from the sky. It completely caught him off guard.
Lin Feng had originally planned to save up to buy an offensive artifact for Niu Meng before getting one for himself. Now, there was no need!
"So, what do you think?" Nie Chuxia asked.
Lin Feng, slightly embarrassed, coughed and said, "I feel bad about making you spend so much."
Nie Chuxia teased him, "You feel bad? That's a first!"
Lin Feng rolled his eyes. "I do have a sense of decency, okay?"
Nie Chuxia explained, "This robe is imbued with spiritual energy. Grandpa said that wearing it enables a unique Daoist technique, making you look like an immortal descending to earth when you perform it. Unfortunately, I don't know how to use it."
The technique she mentioned was likely the "Ripple Wave" skill. The system had already informed Lin Feng that he had mastered this ability. He couldn't help but feel grateful for the system.
Let's just hope Nie Chuxia doesn't get too jealous.
...
The car drove northeast from the old town, passing the Yue Tan Mountain Park. Lin Feng noticed a small hill and a town nearby.
It was Lin Feng's first time here. The surroundings resembled a historic tourist town, near the famous Baihu Lake of Nanyang City—a bustling area.
This place was called Baihu Town.
Located in the suburbs, it had been well developed over the years. While it retained its ancient charm, it was also lively. Nearby attractions included the Baihu Amusement Park, a 4A-rated tourist spot. Locals often came here for day trips during holidays.
Nie Chuxia drove past Baihu Town and headed up the hill. The hill, dotted with villas, looked like a vacation resort.
"Don't tell me this is your house?"
Nie Chuxia replied, "Don't overestimate my family's wealth. This land is worth a fortune; we couldn't possibly afford it."
Lin Feng scratched his head. Wrong guess, then?
"This is Green Bamboo Hill. I heard it belongs to the Talisman Sect."
What the...
Exorcists are this rich now? This isn't fair!
The car stopped at the manor gates. Looking around, Lin Feng saw a dazzling display of lights. This wasn't just the property of the Talisman Sect—it was a luxury haven! Among the 30 or so cars parked in the yard, there wasn't a single one worth less than a million yuan. Five of them were high-end supercars.
And, of course, there were motorcycles.
When Lin Feng spotted a vintage Xingfu 250 motorcycle, he nearly stumbled. Back in the day, the wealthiest person in his village had ridden one of these.
The motorcycle stood out, parked right in the center of the lot, impossible to ignore.
"Whoever owns this bike is a legend!"
Lin Feng admired the mysterious rider immensely.
But then, he spotted a bicycle. His face twitched.
A Xingfu 250, and now this? A Yongjiu 28? Is this for real?
"That guy... He's not just trying to show off, is he? A Yongjiu 28—it even makes my Qianlida look boring!"
So much for exorcists being rich. After seeing the Xingfu 250 and the Yongjiu 28, something inside Lin Feng seemed to break...
"Let's go. There's a banquet tonight, and I'm starving," Nie Chuxia said.
Dressed in an elegant traditional outfit, she linked arms with Lin Feng, walking towards the grand entrance as if attending a glamorous ball in 1930s Shanghai.
"Good evening. May I see your invitation?"
At the door, a courteous young man in a sharp suit greeted them.
After checking Nie Chuxia's invitation, he warmly said, "Ah, a fellow from the Seven Star Palace—Sister Nie. My apologies for not recognizing you. I'm Lu Zhen from the Earth Hall of Green Bamboo Hill."
The Seven Star Palace represented the Candle Sect, while Green Bamboo Hill represented the Talisman Sect. The Earth Hall was part of the Talisman Sect's core disciples. Over the years, the Talisman Sect had expanded its business overseas and adopted a more international style.
Nie Chuxia responded politely, "Brother Lu, the honor is mine."
Lu Zhen, ever the gentleman, gently placed a hand on Nie Chuxia's back and personally escorted her inside, his demeanor warm and inviting.
After he left, Lin Feng asked, "I saw him touch your back. Didn't that bother you?"
"Touch your head!" Nie Chuxia retorted. "That's a Western custom. Most of the Talisman Sect's business is abroad, so they naturally adopt some Western manners."
Lin Feng scoffed. "What kind of Western custom involves touching someone's back? He was obviously taking advantage of you."
"By the way, didn't you say you didn't know anyone from the Southern Sect?"
"I don't," Nie Chuxia replied. "But I've heard of the Earth Hall. Anyone who gets into it isn't ordinary. To put it this way, the Battle Sect and Talisman Sect have lots of people and are quite close to the government, but the Talisman Sect's leader is clever. He keeps the best disciples in the sect to manage their businesses, while the less capable ones serve the government."
Lin Feng suddenly understood. "So that dashing gatekeeper is a big deal, huh?"
Still, something about his lecherous gaze made Lin Feng uneasy.
...
This place was called Green Bamboo Manor . The estate's Western-style architecture made it feel like a giant party.
In the courtyard, long tables were laden with delicious food. Young people in various outfits—traditional robes, casual wear, Daoist attire, and even suits—moved about, creating a lively mix. Some chatted by the swimming pool, while a few older folks could be seen inside sipping tea and conversing.
"I'll go see if my grandfather and uncles are here. You just enjoy yourself," Nie Chuxia said, leaving Lin Feng as she headed into the building.
Lin Feng picked up a plate of fruit pudding. Taking a bite, he found it incredibly tasty. He quickly finished the entire plate.
"Hmm... This is exactly my kind of dessert. Let's see if there's more."
He strolled along the long tables, sampling various dishes with relish. Halfway down the second table, someone called out to him from behind.
Turning around, Lin Feng saw a round-faced young Daoist.
"Hello, Brother! I'm Yuan Jing from Tianhu Mountain. It's my first time here—please guide me!"
The young Daoist was very enthusiastic, even handing Lin Feng a business card.
Judging by his youthful appearance, Yuan Jing looked about 18, around the same age as Lin Xue. It felt strange to be called Brother by someone so young.
"Ahem. Nice to meet you. I'm Lin Feng. It's my first time here, too. I'm not skilled enough to guide you. Also, I don't have a business card."
Lin Feng accepted the card and cupped his hands. Yuan Jing grinned sheepishly and said, "Brother, your attire looks extraordinary—you're being too modest! By the way, what are you looking for?"
"Something to eat," Lin Feng replied.
"Oh~"
Not wanting to interrupt Lin Feng's quest for food, Yuan Jing tactfully excused himself to find someone else to talk to.
As Lin Feng continued eating, he reflected on the Southern Sect Gathering . It seemed to include not just Southern Sect disciples but also members from other Daoist sects. He recognized Tianhu Mountain—it was the sect of Daoist Master Yu Jizi, who had once performed a ritual at the funeral home.
While he pondered, his eyes lit up. Pudding!
At the end of a long table sat a plate with just one remaining piece of pudding.
Lin Feng hurried over, grabbed it, and popped it into his mouth. It was matcha-flavored—delicious!
Just as he was enjoying the treat, a furious voice bellowed behind him.
"You little thief! Stealing my pudding while I'm in the bathroom? You looking for a beating?!"