Chapter Nineteen: Unexpected Gains (Part Two)

The two of them continued onward, searching for the right "catalyst." At last, they discovered a piece of stone that seemed ideal. However, this jade belonged to an old woman and was her family heirloom. Her husband had fallen ill, and she was forced to sell the jade at the market to raise money. Witnessing this, Shi Jun adamantly refused to let Modo use his "miraculous empty hands." Modo, after a few words of persuasion, also felt uneasy and did not insist; after all, the old woman's jade was meant to save a life.

They finished wandering the antique market, and noticing the time, realized most of the morning had passed. Still, they had found nothing. Modo, feeling dispirited, patted his stomach vigorously and whined that he needed "nourishment." Shi Jun laughed and shook his head, then took the perpetually hungry fellow to a food shop. He bought beef jerky, chocolate, nuts, and other snacks, and said, "In a bit, you can head back to Da Hai and bring him some lunch as well. See if Sixth Sister and the others have returned. I’ll go home first and then meet up with you. We’ll talk about anything else this afternoon."

* * * * * * * *

As soon as Shi Jun entered his home, he was greeted by a delicious aroma. The dining table was laden with five or six exquisite dishes, all of his favorites. The sound of a spatula striking a pan came from the kitchen, and he noticed his mother’s travel bag on the sofa—it seemed she was about to leave for a business trip. He called out, "Mom, I’m home!"

No sooner had he spoken than Qin Xiaoya poked her head out from the kitchen. "Wash your hands! I’m finishing the last dish. If you’re hungry, start eating."

"I'm not hungry," Shi Jun replied, stepping into the kitchen to help, but Qin Xiaoya promptly ushered him out.

It was odd. There was no need for such a lavish meal just for a business trip. The lunch today rivaled a holiday feast—enough food for mother and son to eat for three days! Shi Jun scratched his head, puzzled by his mother's mysterious preparations.

Soon, Qin Xiaoya brought out the final dish. Shi Jun ventured, "Mom, why are you in such a good mood today?"

"Is it wrong for your mother to be happy?" Qin Xiaoya replied with a smile, settling down at the table. Like a magician, she produced a bottle of red wine and two glasses from beneath the table, pouring as she spoke. "I'm leaving for Beijing tonight, and I don’t know how long I’ll be gone. Your allowance is in the dresser drawer... Oh, and there's a phone number—call me if you need anything. Take good care of yourself."

Shi Jun agreed, even more confused. Wasn't it just a business trip? Why was she so cheerful? He joked, "Mom, you’re amazing—off on a trip, leaving your son at home, and still so happy!"

"Who said I’m going on a business trip?" Qin Xiaoya placed a piece of duck in his bowl, still smiling. "This time, I’m visiting family—going back to Beijing to see your grandparents."

"What?" Shi Jun almost choked. "My grandparents are still alive? You never mentioned them!"

Qin Xiaoya sipped her wine slowly, not replying immediately. Her smile lingered, but her expression became a bit unnatural.

Shi Jun noticed but didn’t press her. He didn’t want to embarrass his mother, so he changed the subject with a grin. "Beijing’s great! I hear the food’s fantastic. Don’t be stingy when you come back—bring me at least a dozen treats!"

Qin Xiaoya couldn’t help but laugh, looking at her son with tender affection. "You’re grown up, but still such a foodie. Don’t worry, I won’t return empty-handed."

Shi Jun smiled and lowered his head to eat, but he couldn’t help wondering—what was his mother up to, so secretive? Clearly, there was something she wasn’t telling him. But then, didn’t he have secrets of his own? So many things he couldn’t share, even with family. Perhaps even the closest kin sometimes hid things from each other, all for each other's sake... Right now, he had plenty to worry about—capturing ghost spirits, breaking Da Hai’s curse, finding a stone with spiritual power. How could he let his mother know about any of this?

Shi Jun was full of thoughts, and so was Qin Xiaoya. Just the afternoon before, while at work, she’d unexpectedly received a call from her elderly mother. The old woman said that a guest had arrived at their Beijing home, claiming to be Shi Li’s elder brother.

Her mother told Qin Xiaoya that her grandmother had passed away last month after a long illness. The old couple missed their daughter terribly, but the grandmother had always fiercely opposed any contact, so they had been estranged for years. Now, with the grandmother gone, the couple felt their daughter had suffered enough and planned to visit her. Just as they were preparing to leave, this mysterious visitor arrived, and unsure whether he was genuine, they called Qin Xiaoya.

Qin Xiaoya immediately decided to return to Beijing—both to see her long-lost parents and to investigate the man claiming to be Shi Li’s brother.

She remembered clearly what the old immortal had said: her husband Shi Li was a great demon lord from the demon realm. Though she didn’t wish to believe it, the strange events surrounding Shi Jun’s birth left her no room for doubt. The immortal also said her son possessed a supreme power coveted by all four realms—the power of the heart’s eye. Over the years, she tried not to dwell on these things, for every recollection only brought renewed pain over losing her husband and a layer of worry: the fear that unknown forces would snatch away the only bright spot in her life—her son.

Now, who was this sudden visitor? Was he really Shi Li’s brother? Would he bring news of her husband, or was he searching for Shi Li? Or was he simply a fraud?

Despite everything, Qin Xiaoya felt more joy than worry. After all, she would see her parents again after so many years. Her stubborn grandmother had never allowed contact between them, and when Qin Xiaoya tried to call home years before, it was the grandmother who answered and scolded her before hanging up. Hearing of her grandmother’s passing, Qin Xiaoya felt not relief but deep sorrow. Though the old woman had refused to let her return home, she was still her grandmother—family ties couldn’t simply be severed.

Lost in thought, Qin Xiaoya noticed Shi Jun deep in contemplation as well. She asked, "Why aren’t you eating? What are you thinking about?"

"Stones," Shi Jun replied, pondering where to look for the catalyst stone that afternoon. He blurted it out, then realized what he’d said and quickly added, "Nothing important—we’re thinking of making some crafts and need a stone to work with."

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