Chapter 31: Night Patrol
Soon, Su Linsheng’s assistant returned with the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone Chu Feng needed.
"The supplies are all here. What now?" Su Linsheng asked, handing everything to Chu Feng.
"Dad, don’t worry. Just watch," Chu Feng said, taking the items.
The paper was a specific type of yellow paper, the ink was cinnabar, the brush was also a special kind, and the inkstone was hundreds of years old.
Only by combining these items, each imbued with various properties, and empowering them with a special secret mantra, would it be effective.
Chu Feng took the items and, following the memories in his mind, began to cut the yellow paper to the proper size.
Then, Chu Feng began to draw on the yellow sheets, his brush moving like a dragon, creating intricate patterns that were hard to decipher.
Chu Feng drew three in a row. Each was completed in a single, continuous stroke while he seemed to be silently chanting some kind of mantra.
After finishing the three sheets of talisman paper, Chu Feng began to fold them, using a very particular technique to form them into triangles.
"Dad, you must keep this talisman on your person at all times," Chu Feng urged seriously.
Seeing Chu Feng’s serious expression, Su Linsheng carefully put the talisman away.
Once the talisman was secured against his body, Chu Feng looked at the spot between Su Linsheng’s eyebrows again and saw that the darkness there had faded, returning to normal.
"All better," Chu Feng said, breathing a sigh of relief.
Su Miaoke watched Chu Feng with a deep frown. She couldn’t fathom how he knew about metaphysical arts like drawing talismans.
"How do you know about things like feng shui and metaphysics?" Su Miaoke asked again, her confusion growing. Chu Feng hadn’t answered her the last time.
In response to Su Miaoke’s question, Chu Feng just gave a casual reply, "I learned a bit from an old Taoist priest in my village for a few days when I was a kid."
Although Su Miaoke didn’t quite believe him, she didn’t press the matter.
"Dad, Miaoke, I’ll let you get back to your work. I have to go on duty," Chu Feng said, turning to leave.
But Su Linsheng stopped him.
"Son-in-law," Su Linsheng said, "you’re my, Su Linsheng’s, son-in-law. How can you be working as a gatekeeper here? I’ll arrange a comfortable position for you. You can just show up to collect your paycheck."
"Dad, there’s no need," Chu Feng said. "My abilities are limited; I wouldn’t be qualified for any other position. If you did that, it would only breed resentment among the staff. I’m more comfortable staying on as a security guard. It puts my mind at ease."
No matter how Su Linsheng tried, he couldn’t persuade him. In the end, he had no choice but to let Chu Feng have his way.
"Oh, by the way, Miaoke," Chu Feng said, "I’m on the night shift tonight, so I won’t be coming home. You go ahead and get some sleep."
"Night shift? Did Liu Yong schedule you for that? I’m going to call him. What kind of team leader is he?!" Su Miaoke’s temper flared the moment she heard Chu Feng had to work the night shift on his very first day.
Chu Feng quickly stopped her. "Don’t," he said. "I’m an employee of the company now, which means I have to follow the rules. No special privileges. Besides, the night shift tonight is the perfect opportunity to see for myself what’s been happening at the company."
Su Miaoke’s brow furrowed. After a moment’s hesitation, she relented.
After sorting things out, Chu Feng returned to the security office at the main entrance.
Xiao Liu immediately sidled up to him, his face full of curiosity. "Brother Chu, why did President Su call you up there? Was it for a raise?"
As security guards with plenty of downtime, they usually just watched the gate and played games. Their favorite pastime outside of work was gossiping.
"It was nothing. She just asked a few questions," Chu Feng said, keeping what had happened to himself. "A raise? I just started, there’s no way."
Not long after, the security captain, Liu Yong, arrived to take over the shift.
Xiao Liu took Chu Feng to the company cafeteria for a meal. Afterward, he led him to the dormitory to rest.
Working as a security guard at the Su Group included room and board, and both the food and accommodations were quite good.
It was a four-person room with a pleasant environment and was fully equipped.
’As expected of a major corporation. They’re loaded,’ Chu Feng remarked to himself. His bed had already been made up for him.
"Brother Chu, you should get some sleep. We have the night shift later," Xiao Liu said. "Otherwise, you’ll be sleepy and scared tonight, and then we’ll be totally screwed."
As soon as the words left his mouth, Xiao Liu lay down and was instantly fast asleep, snoring softly.
Chu Feng was taken aback. ’Young people these days can just fall asleep the moment their head hits the pillow?’
Chu Feng didn’t dwell on it. He closed his eyes and began to circulate the Qi Cultivation Technique given to him by the God of Wealth.
「Time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, night had fallen.」
Just then, Xiao Liu’s alarm went off.
It startled Chu Feng out of his Cultivation. He let out a long breath, feeling significantly more energized.
His body felt stronger, a very pleasant sensation.
’Looks like I should cultivate more when I have the time,’ Chu Feng thought. ’This stuff really is effective for strengthening the body.’
Xiao Liu deftly switched off the alarm and immediately went back to sleep, his snores resuming without missing a beat.
"Xiao Liu, wake up. Time to eat," Chu Feng said, patting his cheek.
"Huh? Brother Chu? What is it?" Xiao Liu mumbled, rubbing his bleary eyes.
"Time to get up and eat. We need to take over the shift after we’re done," Chu Feng said.
Xiao Liu reluctantly got up to wash his face. Then, the two of them headed to the company cafeteria, which was still open.
Chu Feng ate enough for five people all by himself, leaving both Xiao Liu and the cafeteria lady completely dumbfounded.
"Brother Chu, how long has it been since you’ve eaten? I thought you just had lunch this afternoon," Xiao Liu asked in astonishment.
"I’m hungry," Chu Feng replied with just two words and went back to eating. He wasn’t even close to full until he had finished a sixth portion.
Chu Feng sighed internally. ’Good thing I married a rich woman. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to afford this Cultivation—I wouldn’t even be able to eat my fill!’
Once they had eaten and drunk their fill, the two leisurely made their way to the security office to take over the shift from their colleagues.
After the handover was complete, Xiao Liu began to grow nervous.
"Brother Chu, why don’t we just stay in the security office tonight? We can skip the patrol," Xiao Liu said, a hint of fear in his voice.
Because of the rumors about the company being haunted, almost no one had worked overtime in the last few days. Everyone clocked out and left right at five-thirty. As a result, at this hour, the entire building was pitch black, save for a few lights in the hallways.
"No way," Chu Feng refused. "This is our job, our duty. Besides, it’s my first day. I’m not going to start it by slacking off!" With that, he forcefully dragged Xiao Liu along to start the patrol.
"Brother Chu, I’m scared," Xiao Liu said, his face pale with nervousness.
"What are you scared of?" Chu Feng said, slightly annoyed. "A young man should be fearless. Besides, I’m here. What the hell is there to be afraid of?"