As Feng Yan stepped out of Du Fan's house, she felt a chill creep down her spine. The sensation of being watched was unmistakable. Her instincts, honed by years of experience and her second life, told her that she wasn't alone. She paused for a moment, glancing around casually, but saw no one out of the ordinary. Still, the feeling lingered, like a shadow at the edge of her vision.
She couldn't afford to dwell on it now. There were things she needed to take care of, and she wasn't about to be deterred by the vague sense of danger lurking in the background. Deciding to trust her instincts but not show any alarm, she moved on to her next task: the antique shop.
The moment Feng Yan entered the shop, the air felt thicker, more oppressive. The yin energy had intensified since her last visit. She looked around and immediately noticed that the shopkeeper's health had worsened, his complexion pale and his movements sluggish. It was clear that prolonged exposure to such negative energy had begun to take its toll on him.
She approached the counter, and after ensuring no one else was around, she called the shopkeeper over.
"Can we talk for a moment?" she asked, her voice low but urgent.
The shopkeeper looked at her wearily but nodded, sensing the seriousness in her tone. He led her to a quiet corner of the shop, away from prying eyes.
"It's about the painting I warned you about," Feng Yan began. "The one surrounded by yin energy. You need to remove it from your shop immediately. It's not just a piece of art; it's dangerous, and it's affecting your health."
The shopkeeper's eyes widened at her words. His mind flashed back to the other man who had visited the shop some days earlier, giving a similar warning. Hearing it from two different people, especially one as young as Feng Yan, sent a chill through him. He had dismissed the first warning as superstition, but now...
"Are you certain?" he asked, his voice trembling.
"Yes," Feng Yan replied firmly. "If it stays here any longer, your health will deteriorate further. This kind of energy isn't something to take lightly."
After a tense moment, the shopkeeper nodded. "I'll get rid of it. I'll have it taken down and sold off to a collector who specializes in such things."
Feng Yan relaxed slightly, relieved that he had taken her warning seriously this time. The oppressive energy was already weighing on her, and she couldn't imagine what it was doing to someone who was around it every day.
"Good," she said. "You've made the right decision Uncle."
With that matter settled, she turned her attention to her next query. "By the way, do you happen to have a set of ancient golden and silver needles used for advanced acupuncture?"
The shopkeeper frowned in thought before shaking his head. "I don't have a set here, but I've heard a prominent family in the capital owns one. It's likely to be auctioned off soon. If you're looking for it, you might want to check the auction house."
Feng Yan thanked him for the information and left the shop, satisfied with the progress she'd made. But the moment she stepped outside, that eerie feeling returned—stronger than before. She could sense the presence of several people, their eyes tracking her every move.
Across the street, inside a sleek black car, Bai Chen leaned back in his seat, his sharp gaze following Feng Yan as she exited the antique shop. From the moment she had stepped out of Du Fan's house, his attention had been on her. He had recognized her as the girl from the antique shop, the one who had caught his eye that day. There was something intriguing about her—something that pulled at his usually indifferent nature.
He was not one to involve himself in other people's lives. He lived by a code of detachment, avoiding entanglements that would distract him from his goals. Yet, watching her now, he found himself wanting to intervene.
His assistant, Xu Xiliang, had just returned from the antique shop. "Sir, I spoke with the shopkeeper. It seems the girl warned him about a painting with yin energy. She knew exactly what was wrong and advised him to remove it. She also asked about an ancient set of acupuncture needles."
Bai Chen's brow furrowed. Yin energy? Acupuncture needles? This girl was clearly not ordinary. His curiosity deepened.
Just then, he noticed a change in Feng Yan's behavior. She was walking down the street but kept glancing over her shoulder, her eyes scanning her surroundings as if looking for something—or someone. Her steps quickened slightly, and her gaze became sharper, more alert. It was as though she had sensed the danger trailing behind her.
Bai Chen's instincts kicked in. He straightened in his seat, his unease growing. Someone's following her.
"Assistant Xu," Bai Chen said sharply, "keep an eye on her. I want to know exactly what's going on."
His assistant nodded, his expression serious. Bai Chen had never shown interest in a stranger's affairs before, but there was something about this girl that made him abandon his usual detachment.
Feng Yan, oblivious to Bai Chen's watchful eyes, continued down the street. She decided to deal with her pursuers before heading to the auction house. She pretended not to notice them, keeping her pace casual but purposefully leading them toward a more isolated part of the city. She turned down narrow streets and empty alleys, making it easier to confront them without drawing attention.
Bai Chen's grip tightened on the steering wheel as he saw Feng Yan deliberately lead her pursuers into a deserted area. His jaw clenched. Is she baiting them? Does she know what she's doing? He had seen many things in his life, but rarely had he encountered someone who acted so calmly when they were being followed. His concern for her safety grew with each step she took into the shadows.
Why did he even care? This wasn't his business. And yet, the thought of something happening to her filled him with an unfamiliar sense of dread.
"Sir, should we follow her?" Assistant Xu asked, noting Bai Chen's uncharacteristic tension.
Bai Chen hesitated for a moment, surprised at his own emotions. He wasn't one to meddle, but he couldn't just sit idly by when it was her. Not this time.
"Yes," he said finally, his voice low and determined. "Follow her. Make sure she's safe."
As the car began to move, Bai Chen watched Feng Yan disappear into the alley, his chest tightening with a strange, protective instinct he had never felt before.