Chapter 25: The Eccentric of the Mystic World

Li Te Lin was furious. She was deploying officers across the city to hunt down the suspect who had violently resisted arrest and assaulted the police last night. Today, she would launch a thorough, blanket search.

The mere thought that her delicate hips had been touched by that man, and her face pinched by that damned hooligan—right in front of her two subordinates—set her blood boiling. Unless she taught him a harsh lesson and locked him away for a decade or so, she wouldn't be able to swallow her anger. She even contemplated simply shooting the rascal dead.

"Find that little thug for me! You have three days—if you can't catch him in three days, you'll all be running five kilometers with sandbags strapped to you. Understood?" Li Te Lin barked at the assembled officers.

"Yes, Captain Li!"

It was clear that this tough, combative police beauty commanded real authority. Seeing her in such a rage, the officers, despite any grievances they might harbor, dared not voice them openly.

After the meeting, some began to gossip in private. The two officers who knew the details had been sternly warned by Li Te Lin not to spread the story, but they couldn't resist the temptation to gossip.

"Sigh, Xiao Fei, you don't know why Captain Li is so angry, do you? Let me tell you: yesterday, our tough police beauty was thoroughly taken advantage of by that little thug. Oh, you can't imagine just how scandalous the scene was," one officer who had witnessed the event recounted, embellishing the story to a group of eager listeners.

Everyone loves a bit of gossip, especially when it involves the notorious police beauty; naturally, the interest was high.

"No way! How is that possible? Captain Li is so formidable—how could a little thug overpower her? You're just exaggerating; who would believe it?" a few officers scoffed in disbelief.

"I'm telling you, don't doubt it. I was there yesterday," another tall, young officer chimed in, adding, "And there's even more exciting stuff I haven't told you yet. Our Captain Li—"

Before he could finish, he felt a sharp kick to his backside and fell to the ground.

"What are you talking about? Seems you're having a great time," Li Te Lin's icy voice rang out. Seeing her appear, the officers' spines chilled and their souls nearly fled; they all lowered their heads in silence.

Suppressing her fury, she glared at them. "You lot, go run five kilometers before you say another word."

"Ah, no, it wasn't us—it was Wang Qiang who said it! Of course we don't believe it. Someone as capable as you, Captain Li, could never let a little thug take advantage!" they protested.

"Still talking? Want to run ten kilometers?"

"Ah? Oh... Yes, Captain Li!"

The unlucky officers could only accept their punishment and head off for their run.

Li Te Lin grew more agitated the longer she thought about it. She knew the matter couldn't be kept secret for long; soon, the whole precinct would be buzzing with the tale, an unbearable humiliation for her. Now, her only hope was to capture that little thug as quickly as possible.

While the police searched for Chen Yufeng, Jiang Tailong and his gang were also frantically hunting him, vowing to scour the earth and kill him on sight.

Poor Chen Yufeng had no idea that in just a couple of days, he'd managed to offend both sides of the law. Yet he strolled nonchalantly to the entrance of Ninghai First People's Hospital.

His arrival immediately drew a crowd outside the hospital, sparking lively discussion.

Usually, seeing a couple of fortune-tellers outside the hospital wasn't anything special. But this one was different—while other charlatans at least kept a low profile, he was blatantly trying to make money.

Next to him stood a sign, boldly proclaiming: "Immortal Descends the Mountain—Healing and Fortune-telling, Fifty Thousand per Session, Honest Dealings Guaranteed."

Who would believe a fortune-telling session cost fifty thousand? Word spread quickly, and soon, a crowd had gathered around Chen Yufeng's stall, curious to witness the legendary price for themselves. The buzz grew loud and chaotic, with people crowding three deep to see the spectacle.

"Hey, master, what's the deal here? Is your sky-high fortune-telling really that miraculous? Are you the Jade Emperor or the immortal Laozi reincarnated? Charging fifty thousand for a reading—is that for real or just a joke?"

"It's absolutely genuine. Honest dealings for all."

"Well then, master, why not give me a reading? Let us see your skills—if you're accurate, all these people will support your business, and you'll strike it rich."

"No money, no reading."

"Damn, is this guy crazy? Has he gone mad for money?"

The onlookers were curious, but none were foolish enough to pay fifty thousand for a fortune-telling session. At most, such services went for ten or twenty bucks; asking for fifty thousand was outrageous.

Did he really think he was an immortal come down to earth?

Consequently, Chen Yufeng was subjected to a barrage of insults.

He, however, seemed entirely unbothered, ignoring the jeers and instead addressing the crowd loudly: "If you don't believe, step aside. Don't block those with fate who wish to enter. Don't hinder my business. Fortune-telling is merely my sideline; my main profession is healing—curing all diseases and terminal illnesses in an instant."

Unsurprisingly, his words sparked another round of derision, scorn, and heated debate.

Unbelievable! Have fortune-tellers grown so shameless these days?

This charlatan even claims to be a divine healer?

Turn around and read aloud with me—'Ninghai City First People's Hospital'—look, this is a hospital, and you dare boast in front of such a large institution? Aren't you afraid of being arrested?

"If you don't believe, leave. Don't interfere with my business. And please drop the word 'charlatan'—just use 'immortal,' thank you," Chen Yufeng replied to the loudest heckler.

"Damn, you really think you're an immortal descended to earth?"

"Haha, if you ask me, this guy is the oddest of all charlatans."

"Hey, stinky charlatan, take my advice and pack up before the city management comes to chase you off like a flock of ducks."

The crowd erupted in a cacophony of ridicule.

Half an hour passed, and aside from being lambasted by the crowd, no one approached him for healing.

Chen Yufeng felt a deep sense of defeat. Damn, was he really this unpopular?

Was his reputation truly that bad?

He was considering whether to pack up or try a new approach, when suddenly, a strikingly handsome man and beautiful woman walked over, catching everyone's eye.

Seeing the lovely, long-legged girl approach, Chen Yufeng was momentarily stunned, then sighed at the coincidence. He hadn't expected to meet this heiress again.

She was only eighteen or nineteen, astonishingly beautiful, with long legs and a slender waist, exuding noble elegance and pale, flawless skin. She looked every inch the privileged daughter of a wealthy family, though her complexion was noticeably poor, and a hint of sadness lingered between her brows.

She seemed troubled.

Beside her stood a man of about twenty-four or twenty-five, tall and strong, with a darker complexion and a rugged handsomeness.