Trafford's Trading Club

Chapter 914: Unbelievable

Just after returning to her room, Song Ying immediately went behind a screen.

She removed her outerwear and top, then bent over, reaching behind herself to unfasten her bra. It seemed like her rest at the hospital these past few days had been too good—Song Ying felt like she had gained some weight.

Was it really time to replace all her underwear at home? The size...

Song Ying shook her head as she waited for the bath to fill up, which would take a while.

So, she simply put on a bathrobe, poured a glass of water, and sat down at her desk, opening her laptop.

While sipping her water, Song Ying glanced at the stock market performance of the various businesses under the Song family.

Suddenly, she choked on her drink.

Coughing a few times, she quickly started typing on her keyboard... The laptop screen rapidly shifted between various interfaces.

Moments later, Song Ying dumbfoundedly rubbed her eyes, then instinctively patted her laptop with a look of disbelief.

"No way... Could this be a virus? All our stocks are hitting the upper limit?? Meow??"Just then, her phone rang—it was a call from a branch manager of the Song Dynasty Group overseas.

"Miss Ying! Oh my god! We struck oil!! Can you believe it? It’s really oil!!"

"What?" Song Ying’s mouth slightly opened in surprise.

At that moment, another international call came in, this time from a high-level manager at the Song Dynasty Group, a woman. "Miss Ying, we’ve discovered a gold deposit in a mine in Cuba! Oh my god!!"

"Huh???" Song Ying’s mouth opened wider, and she blinked in disbelief.

Before she could process it, yet another call came in. Song Ying instinctively switched to it. "You... you’ve got more good news?"

"Miss Ying, you already know?" came a surprised voice from the other end.

"...Go ahead and tell me," Song Ying’s eyelid twitched. Today was truly bizarre.

"The team we sponsored won by default because their opponent’s players were caught using banned substances. They’re moving on automatically!"

"Ah??" Song Ying blurted out, realizing it was the manager of the soccer team the Song family sponsored. Still in disbelief, she pinched her own cheek.

"Am I using up all my good fortune in one go or what... How are all these good things happening at once?"

---

The astonishment wasn’t limited to Song Tianyou, and Uncle Wu, who was with him, was equally taken aback.

At that moment, Mr. Blind suddenly spoke, "Master Song, could you ask Mr. Wu to wait outside?"

His implication was clear—what he was about to discuss would only be for the head of the Song family, Song Tianyou, and Luo Qiu.

Without waiting for Song Tianyou to speak, Uncle Wu nodded and stepped out, closing the door to the mourning hall and standing guard to ensure no one entered.

Frowning, Song Tianyou asked, "Sir, what do you mean by this? You said Luo Qiu is a person of supreme fortune?"

He recalled the words Mr. Blind had said that night about the Song family’s flourishing luck, with Luo Qiu, recently welcomed into the family, being the key.

"At least someone of equal fortune, or perhaps even..." Mr. Blind hesitated before continuing, "Master Song, have you ever heard the saying, 'Life and death are governed by fate, wealth and honor are decreed by heaven'?"

"An old saying." Song Tianyou nodded.

Mr. Blind said, "I was born blind, unable to see the world. But though heaven took my sight, it granted me something else—I can see people’s fates. I can see your fate, Master Song, as well as that of your eldest son, Miss Ying... but I cannot see Luo Qiu’s."

Fate is an elusive concept, yet Song Tianyou didn’t doubt him. Instead, he frowned and asked, "Why can’t you see it?"

Mr. Blind replied slowly, "In Daoism, the concept of fate is profound. However, fate follows certain patterns. Some are born into wealth and power, blessed with good fortune, and live without worry. This is due to heaven’s favor. Others are poor and unlucky their entire lives, as if forsaken by the heavens. This, too, can be seen... most people’s fates can be seen. In Daoism, there’s also a saying about those who transcend the Three Realms and are not bound by the Five Elements. Such people’s fates cannot be seen because they are outside the natural order. Their fates represent an anomaly, which can also be called freedom, or as we Daoists say, 'free from all constraints.'"

"And Luo Qiu..." Song Tianyou looked at Luo Qiu in amazement.

Luo Qiu remained calm, without any tension or unease. His composed demeanor made Song Tianyou feel a bit inferior by comparison.

"There is another type of fate that cannot be seen," Mr. Blind added unexpectedly. "This fate is completely bound to the will of heaven and earth. When the heavens change, so does their fate. When their fate changes, so do the heavens. If someone possesses this kind of fate, they could be called a sage. As for Luo Qiu... I’m sorry, Master Song, I cannot determine which type it is. But one thing is clear: Luo Qiu is a person of supreme fortune. Otherwise, his mere act of paying respects to his ancestors wouldn’t have brought such prosperity to the Song family. His reverence moves the heavens and earth themselves. In short, the Song family is extraordinarily blessed."

Hearing this left Song Tianyou speechless, while Luo Qiu frowned slightly after listening.

He hadn’t thought much of it—paying respects to ancestors came naturally, perhaps as an instinct. As for whether his act of reverence would bring prosperity to the Song family, Luo Qiu didn’t dwell on it.

But Mr. Blind’s words...

Qingxiazi... that must be a Daoist name, Luo Qiu thought. He knew people with such names—Yang Taizi, who was hiding somewhere, was one of them.

At this moment, Song Tianyou glanced at Luo Qiu, only to see him shake his head in confusion, as if he didn’t understand.

Song Tianyou quickly said, "Mr. Blind is an extraordinary person. During the zombie crisis at the hospital, you must have noticed that he’s different from ordinary people, right?"

Luo Qiu nodded.

Mr. Blind spoke again, "Master Luo Qiu, I know you must have many questions. There are some people known as the 'favored children of heaven.' Whatever they do, whatever they desire, they can achieve with ease. It’s as if divine assistance is always with them. They don’t understand why their luck is so extraordinary, but it just is... Based on the changes your actions have brought to the Song family’s fortunes, it seems you are one of the most outstanding of these people."

Luo Qiu remained silent for a moment. He didn’t feel confused but was rather deep in thought after Mr. Blind’s words.

For example, if someone wanted to buy a lifetime of wealth and prosperity, could he simply go and pay a few respects like that and get it over with? How convenient!

While he was still contemplating, Mr. Blind did something that truly surprised Luo Qiu.

The Daoist, known as Qingxiazi, suddenly bowed three times to Luo Qiu in a grand gesture, catching even the usually composed Luo Qiu off guard.

"Mr. Blind, what is the meaning of this? You mustn’t, you mustn’t!"

Grandpa Song quickly supported Mr. Blind, who was at least half a century older than him, akin to a living immortal of the present world.

Mr. Blind calmly said, "As a cultivator, I follow the heavenly will, guide with the flow, and respect ghosts and gods. In every dynasty, even the most powerful individuals of the time would bow when meeting an earthly supreme. If Young Master Luo Qiu is such a supreme being, failing to show respect would harm one's destiny. It should not be, it should not be."

It seemed that he could not stay any longer with the Song family... Seeing this, Luo Qiu felt a slight sense of pity.

"Mr. Song, if there’s nothing else, I’d like to return to my room to change. May I?" Luo Qiu asked softly.

Song Tianyou hesitated, unsure how to respond. Luo Qiu smiled and nodded before walking straight out.

"Master, this… this… this…" Song Tianyou stammered, unable to finish his sentence.

Mr. Blind sighed and suddenly said, "Mr. Song, before meeting Young Master Luo Qiu, I thought the true dragon energy of your Song family, gathered over a thousand years, might have concentrated in him, thus bringing a remarkable momentum to the Song family. But now, it seems that is not the case... I fear even the capacity of the entire Song family cannot bear it. I never expected..."

"What didn’t you expect, Master?" Mr. Song asked nervously.

Mr. Blind calmly replied, "I didn’t expect to meet such a supreme noble in my lifetime. I thought such figures were merely fabrications in the ancient texts of our sect, but now that I’ve seen one today... my life was not in vain, truly not in vain."

So, Master, you’re just speaking from books... Mr. Song felt that his image of Mr. Blind was beginning to shift.

But regardless, this eccentric man with his ancient bronze sword was real.

"Mr. Song, the capacity of your Song family, even with its thousand-year legacy, cannot bear the presence of this supreme noble," Mr. Blind said, looking at the many ancestral plaques in the hall. "If he wishes to stay, let him stay. If not, do not force it. Some things, if forced, will only lead to futility."

"Let me think about it..." Song Tianyou lowered his head in deep thought, then suddenly asked, "Master, may I ask, can his descendants be retained?"

Mr. Blind frowned and pondered for a moment. "The life of a supreme noble is too strong; an ordinary woman cannot bear it."

Mr. Song asked again, "What do you think of Song Ying?"

Mr. Blind pondered once more and slowly replied, "Miss Ying is blessed with deep fortune and extraordinary luck. She has been intelligent since childhood, exceptionally bright, and can be considered a genius favored by heaven. Moreover, being born into the Song family, she benefits from the lingering fortune of a dynasty, so it might be worth a try. But I cannot say for certain. If my senior brother were here, he could perhaps give you a clearer answer, for he is the true heir of our sect, while I am but a failure."

Song Tianyou asked, "Master, are you referring to Master Lai of the Cloth Robe Sect?"

Mr. Blind fell silent, seemingly recalling past events, and slowly said, "I am merely the 'Heaven's Eye,' but my senior brother is... the 'Heaven's Heart.'"

…

The Cold Residence was not as simple as it appeared on the outside. Beneath it, there were many hidden spaces.

Though she hadn’t been shaved bald, dressed in strange clothes, or had a tail attached, Gloria still found herself imprisoned. She sat on the bed, hugging her knees.

The room wasn’t large, with little space to move. The walls were padded to prevent injury, resembling a room designed for confining the mentally ill.

After returning from the ruins of the castle, she had been brought here. Counting the days, more than three had passed.

No one had appeared during this time—likely because she was a vampire, and no one had brought her any food.

If her powers hadn’t been sealed off, she could have easily broken down the iron door... Gloria sighed, knowing such thoughts were unrealistic.

But at that moment, the door to her cell suddenly opened.

In walked Song Haoran, the ever-smirking eldest son of the Song family, holding a large bowl.

Gloria caught the scent of blood... the bowl contained fresh blood. This immediately triggered a hunger in her, and her eyes changed as a result.

Song Haoran, still smiling, placed the bowl on the room’s only table—a steel plate embedded in the wall.

"Fresh blood. Someone in the kitchen cut their wrist, and there was plenty of it," Song Haoran leaned against the wall, arms crossed, observing Gloria, who had turned her face away. "Ah, it seems your feeding cycle is longer than I thought?"

"Idiot, do you think you can fool me with animal blood?" Gloria coldly replied. "You’d better let me go. If my imprisonment is discovered, your family will face disaster."

Song Haoran shrugged. "But I’ve already had you locked up for days, and nothing bad has happened. In fact, for some reason, I feel great—so clear-headed and refreshed."

"Dead man walking," Gloria sneered.

"Ms. Investigator, you don’t seem to be highly regarded among your kind, do you?" Song Haoran suddenly said in a low voice. "Don’t ask me how I know—let me take a guess."

Gloria stared at him intently.

He continued, "I value the lives of my subordinates. If anything happened to them, I’d act immediately. It’s only those who are unimportant or untrusted that I’d consider not worth saving. Also, if I lost contact with my comrades for two days, I wouldn’t just sit around."

"Arrogant fool," Gloria sneered again.

Ignoring her, Song Haoran mused, "Let me think... You must have a woman close to you, a woman who is very important to you."

Gloria’s expression changed slightly.

Song Haoran said, "I don’t think you’d be truly afraid of getting your head shaved. What you’re really scared of is exposure. When I mentioned posting the photos on YouTube, that’s when you truly panicked. Why? Because someone who knows you might see them. You’re afraid your kind will recognize you."

Seeing her silent, Song Haoran spread his hands. "But most people wouldn’t reveal their identity just out of fear of being ridiculed by their peers. However, if it’s about more than embarrassment... hmm, maybe you're scared of punishment for failing your mission. And this punishment must be particularly unbearable for you... Despite your efforts to hide it, I can sense your anxiety. Who is this woman?"

Gloria’s expression grew increasingly tense, and when Song Haoran reached out his hand, her face turned pale.

Dangling from his hand was a necklace with a small photo as its pendant.

"Give it back!" Gloria lunged forward.

But with her strength sealed by the wooden sword embedded in her body, she was no match for Song Haoran, a seasoned mercenary.

Effortlessly, Song Haoran grabbed her wrists and pinned her against the wall. "How about a deal?"

Gloria struggled, staring him down.

Smiling, Song Haoran said, "Tell me everything about the Thirteen Clans, and I’ll give you this back. And... I’ll bring you real human blood. Don’t worry, with so many death row prisoners around, no one will notice if one or two go missing."

"You’re the most despicable man," Gloria spat at him.

Song Haoran simply twirled the necklace and whistled, "Thank you for the compliment."