How come the celestial technique I stole is so powerful?!

"This person isn't allowed into the Qianlong... Base?" Lin Xiaosu almost let slip the word 'headquarters.' Thankfully, he reacted in time. In fact, Ding Dong didn't know he was entering the Qianlong Headquarters; he always thought it was just a regular base.

"Not allowed! And I also promised him not to mention his existence to anyone." Ding Dong said.

"But you... you still mentioned it to me!"

"You're different! Not to mention you're my brother-in-law, part of the family. More importantly... you're a detective. I need your help to solve this ancient mystery."

"Why are we suddenly talking about a case?"

Ding Dong said, "The person we need to meet is a case in himself."

Lin Xiaosu: "What do you mean?"

"This person's 'ghostly content' is significantly high. I must know exactly what it is, otherwise I won't feel at ease..."

And so Ding Dong began to elaborate...

A long time ago, back when he was still in middle school, like many idle heirs, he found pleasure in spending money.

However, unlike others, he had an interest in peculiar things.

Once, he found a strange little object in an antique shop.

The shopkeeper claimed it was a treasure, he couldn't tell either way. But the traits of a spendthrift meant it didn't matter whether he recognized it or not or how much money it cost. He was just indulging in the feeling of squandering money.

He spent a hundred thousand to buy it.

However, this object changed his life.

One night, an old man emerged from this object, showing him many strange things, like a mechanical dog that could run, a box that could fly, and a girl who could dance. They were all holographic displays, but they seemed remarkably lifelike.

At first, Ding Dong was a little scared, then intrigued, then utterly absorbed.

He developed a deep interest in mechanical manufacturing, studying various skills, and started making things himself.

The items he crafted became increasingly sophisticated, yet he couldn't understand the old man's methods until one day, the old man told him that the skills he was teaching were Ancient Skills known as Puppetry Technique.

Puppetry Technique is vast and profound.

It includes a profound understanding of mechanics and a layout of imaginative thoughts, in which Ding Dong deeply indulged.

However, the most profound part of Puppetry Technique, the Rune Path, remained a mystery to him.

So, when he saw the internal structure of the Wing Blade, he knew right away it was Puppetry Technique.

But this Puppetry Technique was too advanced for him to comprehend, so he resorted to memorizing the runes forcefully and planned to show them to the old man for decryption.

This was Ding Dong's secret.

The secret that spanned his entire life.

It explained his interest in the way of mechanics and his exceptional hands-on ability.

Because he possessed not only the various knowledge of modern society but also an Ancient teacher.

Ding Dong summed it up in one sentence: "I really don't know if this old man is human or ghost. When I was a kid, it was fine. But the older I grew, the less I believed in those mystical things. The harder it was to accept a phantom old man crawling out of a blood-red coffin in the middle of the night to chat with me..."

"Blood-red coffin?" Lin Xiaosu's heart suddenly leaped.

"Yes, the little object from the antique shop was a blood-red coffin, though it's only as long as a finger, it genuinely looks like a coffin..."

Lin Xiaosu's thoughts were in turmoil.

Blood coffin!

Another blood coffin!

Not many people nowadays have seen a blood coffin.

But he had!

In his Secret Realm was another, housing Big Yellow.

And now, his fortunate brother-in-law also had one, with someone inside well-versed in Ancient Puppetry.

Must see it!

"Let's go, we... head home!"

Ding Dong said, "About the matter just mentioned, no rush! After all, that old man, whether human or ghost, is trapped inside the coffin and can't escape. Let's first implement the plan of tricking some pocket money from my mom."

Lin Xiaosu felt a twinge of jealousy: "I mean, your family has only you and your sister as children. Your mom's money is either yours or your sister's. What's there to trick?"

"You don't understand. The money in my mom's hands is considered money only when it's with me or my sister. In her hands, it becomes a glaring torch in the eyes of con artists! Every jewelry store in Jiangcheng has cheated her out of millions. Ordinary jewelry, with some hype, prices rise tenfold, and my mom is always happy with it."

"That makes sense, big cities do have special courses targeting upscale women." Lin Xiaosu said, "But according to Ruoshui, the money in your hands also ends up filling the pockets of gold-diggers."

"Superficial! What do you mean by filling the pockets of gold-diggers? You need a long-term vision!" Ding Dong said, "When I give them money, they also spend, boosting demand, driving consumption, that's a national rejuvenation strategy! Daxia's revival depends on tens of thousands of people like Ding Dong..."

My gosh!

Daxia Revive!

Stop with the grand slogans.

Daxia's revival can't rely on you; maybe the economy of flattering sycophants is the only economic field counting on you...

The two of them went on together, side by side.

There were arguments and compromises, and they finally reached a difficult consensus: Lin Xiaosu wouldn't participate in the scam, but he also wouldn't ruin Ding Dong's plan, and would simply keep smiling the entire time...

Entering Jiangcheng, they got into a taxi, and just before lunchtime, the taxi entered the Nanhu Villa District.

The two got out of the taxi and arrived at the front gate. The gate opened, and Uncle Sun, who was trimming the plants inside, let out a loud shout. The scissors fell, accurately hitting his instep.

Aunt Mei rushed out…

Mrs. Ding rushed out with a loud scream…

A figure flashed on the second floor, and in the next moment, Ding Ruoshui rushed out of the spacious hall like a gust of wind and appeared in the garden.

Mrs. Ding lunged over, grabbed Ding Dong's shoulder, and shook him desperately: "You… you bastard! Where the hell have you been? You…"

"Mom, I… it's a long story! And it's a story full of tears… Let's go inside!"

"Come on in quickly!"

In no time, the three owners of the villa, three servants, and an additional guest all entered the hall.

Listening to Ding Dong, the missing young master of the Ding Family for two or three months, recount his "story full of tears" of misfortune.

Ding Dong took a deep breath, very serious, with a low tone and hoarse voice, and began…

Didn't his mom always teach him not to mess around with dubious women and to find a decent girl if he wanted to be with someone? He listened. Coincidentally, he encountered a very decent woman, this woman graduated from college, had a respectable family background, was very refined, and plain-faced. He planned to have a serious relationship with the girl and went with her to Biannan Province.

Who knew, knowing someone's face but not their heart, he had trusted the wrong person.

This woman tricked him into Qingmian Country.

Good heavens, directly sent into a scam group.

The members of that group asked him to contact his family. Ding Dong knew his mother was so loyal, loved her children dearly, and also knew how wealthy their family was. He worried that one call could squander dozens of small fortunes, so how could he make a call?

How could those people let go of such a fat cow? He didn't compromise, so they tortured him mercilessly, beat him severely every three days, and lightly every two…

He thought his life was over, but who'd have known, his brother-in-law, with his divine skills, found him and saved him from life-threatening danger…

This is the whole story!

He recounted it tearfully and emotionally.

Mrs. Ding listened, her heart aching with anguish.

The servants listened, terror-stricken.

Lin Xiaosu listened… with his hand over his forehead the entire time.

Mrs. Ding took a long breath: "Thank heaven and earth, it's all thanks to little Su. I've said it, little Su is a blessing to our family!"

Ding Dong nodded repeatedly: "Mom, you have to thank my brother-in-law this time. Oh, by the way, didn't you offer that ten million reward? Hurry up and settle it."

"What nonsense are you spouting, child? Little Su is family; how can we be so distant…" Mrs. Ding gave him a side-eye: "This whole incident clearly shows that women are your nemesis! You've got to learn your lesson. Break off with all nine of those women in Jiangcheng!"

Ding Dong was stunned: "Mom, did you not get the point? This time I got into trouble because of a decent girl! Of the nine in Jiangcheng, not one is decent. From now on, shouldn't I be staying away from decency, playing amidst the flowers?"

Mom's face darkened: "Even seemingly decent girls are dangerous, let alone those who are clearly not? From now on, you stay obediently at home. You're not allowed to go anywhere. Aunt Mei, you take charge inside, Uncle Sun, you're responsible outside…"

"Yes, ma'am!"

The two servants responded simultaneously.

Ding Dong looked at Lin Xiaosu, doubting his life.

Lin Xiaosu's gaze wandered, steadfastly avoiding eye contact…

Ding Dong slapped his forehead: "I'm going to the basement to reflect on this in peace!"

Ran off!

Lin Xiaosu stood up: "I'll go check on him."

"Alright!"

The two took the elevator down to the basement.

Mrs. Ding and Ding Ruoshui were left looking at each other…

"That rascal mentioned the 'ten million reward'!" Mrs. Ding exhaled lightly: "Did I tell anyone about that?"

"You shouldn't have told anyone, I… mentioned it," Ding Ruoshui said.

"Was it when you spoke to little Su on the phone? I overheard!" Mrs. Ding said. "You said if he could find and bring back that rascal, give him ten million in cash, or yourself to toy with."

"Yeah! Now that little Su has brought him back, and you tacitly agreed back then, our Ding family keeps its word. We promised, and it wouldn't be good to go back on it… Mom, transfer the money!" Ding Ruoshui reached to help her with the phone.

"Transfer what? Is little Su someone who's interested in money? Is giving him money not an insult to him? What he wants is a person!" Mrs. Ding slapped her hand away. "Keep your promise, give yourself to him!"

Ding Ruoshui's eyes wandered: "Maybe… maybe he really wants you to insult him?"

"He wants it? You want it! Your mom, having managed to wrap your professor-level father around her little finger, sees through your little schemes! I'll teach you properly today!" Mrs. Ding said. "Money in mom's hands grows! You giving yourself to him can also produce a nephew for me, adding to our family! That's what I call a win-win situation, inside and out, making a fortune everywhere. Aren't you a Ding's daughter? Can't you do math?"

Ding Ruoshui was completely shattered…

In the basement.

The elevator doors opened, and the two came out.

As soon as they got out, Ding Dong turned his head: "Brother, seems like this act has flopped."

"Be confident enough to drop the 'seems like,'" Lin Xiaosu said.

"Why is that? I don't think there are any holes in the story." Ding Dong was full of dissatisfaction and confusion.

Lin Xiaosu said, "You put in too much of your own stuff."