Chapter 263: 263 – Abnormal is Normal

“Ah, is this about Chi Ling’s student Zhang Shuyi?” Song Taiji recalled that Rouxi had asked him about his calligraphy before.

“Zhang Shuyi was hired by a mercenary to forge different paintings and calligraphy,” Li Yun didn’t mind revealing information to Song Taiji. They had already sent an anonymous tip to the local police to make a connection between Zhang Shuyi and the unknown monk. The only thing Li Yun had the Abyss erased was any connection with the monk back to Abbot Haoyang and Luba.

“I have shown them my collection, but I wouldn’t hire a mercenary as a third party when I could ask them directly.”

“Is it possible for your rival to copy it?” Li Yun didn’t want to rule out Song Taiji completely, he had no motive and it was odd that he would hire a mercenary in the first place. However, a man like Song Taiji likely had many political rivals who may want to damage his reputation. Song Taiji also had other more expensive work, but the Zhao Mengfu was his most prized calligraphy in his possession. But who would want to go up against Song Taiji?

“I have political rivals, but no one who would use this particular route,” said Song Taiji. “Did you ever thought about Zhang Shuyi being the murderer? The young Zhang appeared to be interested in calligraphy to a level that is bordering mania.”

“I have considered that for a time,” Li Yun replied. “However, the way the monk was killed by a trained killer judging by the puncture wounds. It appeared that Zhang Shuyi was the original target, but someone else died in his place.” It was unlikely that Zhang Shuyi had the strength to overtake someone with military training. According to the Abbot Haoyang and Monk Luba,  Zhang Shuyi was instructed to copy five so-called lost works of art in exchange for the real calligraphy pieces at their disposal. The monk who was killed was in charge of watching over Zhang Shuyi during the assignment and collecting the forged items. However, before completing the mission, he was killed in the process. Most likely, he had been protecting Zhang Shuyi. “What’s your impression of him?” 

“The young man has a very high potential, but he has Asperger’s symptoms and doesn’t respond well to orders. That is the case with many geniuses, they are only good at one thing. Quite different from you, which makes me wonder if there’s anything else about you that is abnormal.”

“Being abnormal is normal,” Li Yun responded vaguely before steering the conversation back to Zhang Shuyi. “And what about his master?”

“His master isn’t the best calligrapher, but he knows how to make connections. It’s likely that he had met Zhang Shuyi by happenchance and saw an opportunity to use the young man to get him into the elite calligraphy circle in Imperial City.”

“So how is their reputation in Imperial City?” asked Li Yun.

“Decent, but Zhang Shuyi’s name is rising quickly for his ability to imbue special characters in his work. Very similar to yours, but I have to say your reputation is higher in the art world.”

Li Yun didn’t pay much attention to the art world, so he didn’t know what other calligraphers thought about his calligraphy. His only indicator was the rate at which the items were sold in the TeeBee shop. Wu Ling regularly contacted him to restock on inventory.

“Then his Master Chi Ling is the most suspicious,” said Li Yun. He needed to visit the calligraphy master if he wanted to understand if there was a motive. “Do you know Master Chi Ling’s calligraphy circle?”

“He himself isn’t capable of joining the circle, but Master Meng Shi was the one that introduced me to them,” said Song Taiji. 

“Can you set up a meeting for me with Master Meng Shi?” Li Yun also wanted to greet the Song’s family feng shui master. With his recently acquired knowledge, he wanted to see if he could gather more information from the old master. Shang Cang wasn’t considered a master and the Queen Mother had a cryptic way of explaining everything. Maybe it made sense to her, but to him, it was beyond his comprehension.

“Considering my connection to this city, I have invited him to perform a reading here,” said Song Taiji. “He can stop by to see you after he’s done surveying the area.”

As though on cue, a message appeared on Song Taiji’s phone indicating that. Meng Shi would be arriving shortly. Within a half an hour, an elderly man walked into the room. The man looked wizened and his long beard made him look older than his actual age. He dressed traditionally and held an antique wooden fan in his hands.

Song Taiji introduced him to Li Yun, and all three sat back down around the table. Secretary Liang was the only person who remained standing and Li Yun saw Meng Shi’s assistance standing in the hallway.

“Dr. Li, is it alright if I call you Little Li?” Meng Shi asked. He was very courteous and wasn’t someone who Li Yun thought would be Song Taiji’s feng shui master. He didn’t have much air about him. But knowing who he is, Li Yun assumed that the master was very good at hiding his aura.

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If Li Yun hadn’t shook his hand and noticed a strong shen energy inside his dantian, he would appear like a simple and bland old man stuck in the past.

“Master Meng Shi, this little one does not mind,” Li Yun replied.

Meng Shi’s eyes twitched slightly by Li Yun’s ability to imitate his formal speaking style. “You are truly an exceptional person.”

“Oh? Does Master Meng Shi also have the ability to spot talent?” asked Li Yun.

“Spotting talent is merely a type of intuition,” said Meng Shi. “I would say my intuition is sharper than most people, but not to the level of Master Song Taiji.”

“Then is your intuition a Meng family’s ability or something you have cultivated on your own?” asked Li Yun.

“A bit of both,” replied Meng Shi. 

“That’s a bit of a contradiction.”

“Life is already a contradiction.”

“Like how fate and free will are interlinked?”

“Exactly,” Meng Shi said with a smile. “What we decide on our own is both our decision and its inevitable fate.”

Song Taiji was confused for the first time. He could typically read between the lines, but the conversation between Li Yun and Meng Shi was cryptic. Considering they had never met or spoken before, it was difficult to understand the topic of their discussion.

Meng Shi turned to Song Taiji and explained, “It’s related to the practice of feng shui. I am merely telling Little Li that feng shui is nothing more than knowing about everything and nothing.”

There were mysteries in life that was best kept a secret. Otherwise, what mystery was left to explore?

“Then can I ask you about your intuition on Zhang Shuyi and Master Chi Ling?” Li Yun asked.

“Master Song Taiji has mentioned to me about your interest in them,” said Meng Shi. “There have been a lot of rumors circulating within the elite circle. No one has connected his disappearance with a potential forgery scheme. However, if the exchange was for an authentic piece of calligraphy, then I could see Zhang Shuyi being interested. Chi Ling is only interested in his own reputation, but he doesn’t really care about calligraphy.”

Abbot Haoyang had mentioned that they offered Zhang Shuyi an authentic copy of Zhu Yunming’s calligraphy in exchange for his service to copy a dozen different calligraphy for a client. In return, the temple would receive an ancient singing bowl for the transaction. The transactions appeared to be equal for all the parties involved until one of Abbot Haoyang’s men was killed. As everything was anonymous, Abbot Haoyang didn’t think the client was involved.

From Meng Shi’s account, it appeared that Master Chi Ling was the strongest link to find Zhang Shuyi. With the information from Meng Shi, Li Yun had Wing Bo look into Chi Long’s account and files to find a possible motive. If Chi Long had anything to do with his student’s disappearance, they must find a good reason.

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