Volume One, Chapter 20: The Golden Radiance of Merit Appears Once More

"Luo Xia!"

Xiao Shiwei, following closely behind, saw Luo Xia about to fall. She threw aside the bags in her hands and rushed to catch her.

But she was too late.

Panic and anxiety overwhelmed Xiao Shiwei.

Resigned to her fate, Luo Xia simply shut her eyes—if she couldn’t see, the fear would lessen.

Just then, a flash of white darted past Xiao Shiwei. With a single leap, Su Tong caught Luo Xia just as she was about to fall.

Luo Xia felt herself begin to tumble, only to be abruptly steadied by a firm grip—she hadn’t rolled down the stairs after all.

Gratitude surged within her, and she couldn’t help but open her eyes. As expected, it was Su Tong who’d saved her.

The escalator arrived at the ground floor.

Supported by Su Tong and Xiao Shiwei, Luo Xia quickly regained her footing and stepped aside.

She panted, still shaken. “Thank you, Master Su, for saving my life.”

Su Tong herself felt a twinge of lingering fear; the situation had been perilous, and she’d barely managed to grab Luo Xia in time.

Outwardly, however, she remained calm.

“No need to thank me. After this ordeal, your bad luck for today has passed.”

Luo Xia caught the key words, her lips twitching. “Today?”

Su Tong nodded. “For the next three days, you’ll face a mishap brought on by your misfortune each day, but they’ll lessen in severity. After three days, your run of bad luck will be over.”

Luo Xia groaned miserably, “What? Three more days?”

Xiao Shiwei tried to reassure her friend. “You should look at it this way—only three days left.”

Luo Xia’s sorrow vanished as quickly as it had come, her eyes lighting up. “You’re right, I’ve made it through twenty days already—what’s three more?”

The three of them picked up the bags that had been dropped, checking over their belongings.

Fortunately, nothing was lost or broken.

They got into Luo Xia’s car and set off for the White Deer Hot Springs Resort on the outskirts of the city.

An hour and a half later, they drove into the hotel grounds.

As soon as Su Tong stepped out of the car, she was stunned by the scene before her.

The hotel was designed as a European castle, its interiors lavishly decorated.

She glanced around, unable to suppress a gasp. “It’s breathtaking!”

Xiao Shiwei, walking beside her, smiled. “This hotel is ranked among the top five of the Luo family’s hundreds of properties. It’s not just beautiful—every amenity is available, and the service is impeccable.”

Hearing her family’s hotel praised, Luo Xia’s face broke into an even brighter smile.

“I’ve already booked our rooms in advance—you’ll be satisfied, I promise.”

She’d reserved the presidential suite on the top floor for them.

Everything inside was exquisite.

From the enormous floor-to-ceiling windows, one could overlook the entire hotel’s back gardens.

Most importantly, the hotel was far from the bustle of the city, nestled near the mountains, where the spiritual energy was much thicker than in the city center.

After a quick wash, Su Tong sat down to meditate and cultivate.

Suddenly, she sensed a faint aura of sinister yin energy outside her door.

She immediately ended her meditation and rose to her feet.

But by the time she hurried out, that aura had already dissipated at the end of the corridor.

She looked around—there was no trace left, as if it had never appeared.

She frowned.

At that moment, Xiao Shiwei emerged from her room, and their eyes met.

“Su Tong, I was just about to find you,” Xiao Shiwei said. “Let’s go downstairs now—dinner first, then hot springs.”

Su Tong suppressed her doubts and smiled. “Alright.”

“I’ll get Luo Xia.”

Xiao Shiwei waved to Su Tong and knocked on the next door.

Su Tong returned to her room, packed her swimsuit and a few other things into a bag, and left it on the table by the door.

She then called the front desk. “Please deliver the items on the table outside my door to the outdoor hot springs area.”

After hanging up, she stepped outside in time to see Xiao Shiwei and Luo Xia coming out as well.

The three of them went downstairs together.

Luo Xia led them on a brief tour.

Every step revealed a new picturesque view, each more enchanting than the last.

A look of wonder flashed in Su Tong’s eyes—her body relaxed instinctively.

When it was nearly time, Luo Xia took them to the restaurant.

The décor was still refined and luxurious.

The three chose a table by the window.

“What would you like to eat, Su Tong?” Luo Xia handed her the menu.

Su Tong didn’t take it, replying playfully, “Anything’s fine. You know the place best—recommend something for me.”

Hearing Su Tong’s teasing tone and glancing at her adorable doll-like face, Luo Xia nearly melted.

“Alright, but do you have any dietary restrictions?”

Su Tong shook her head. “None.”

In truth, she didn’t care much about food. Eating was merely to sustain her body’s energy.

If the spiritual energy here were as rich as in the Mystic Realm, she could simply cultivate instead of eating.

As Luo Xia and Xiao Shiwei discussed the order, Su Tong’s gaze wandered around the restaurant.

Unexpectedly, she caught sight of someone she thoroughly disliked—Su Mingzhe.

His stern face wore an insincere smile, creating a jarring contrast.

A faint black aura clung to him, proof that his business affairs weren’t going well lately.

What’s more, Su Tong sensed an energy on him similar to the sinister aura she’d detected outside her room.

How unlucky!

She glanced away immediately, not bothering to look again.

Su Mingzhe also noticed Su Tong.

Seeing Xiao Shiwei sitting beside her, a flash of disgust crossed his eyes.

Just as his wife had said, after leaving the Su family, Su Tong had ingratiated herself with the Xiao family by questionable means.

In his eyes, Su Tong had neither background nor ability—what else could have attracted Xiao Shiyu but her face?

Across from Su Mingzhe, Wang Chenyang noticed the change in his expression. “President Su, is something wrong?”

Su Mingzhe curled his lips in a cold sneer. “Nothing, just saw something filthy. Ignore her, let’s continue.”

Wang Chenyang raised his glass, took a sip, and asked, “President Su, are you sure you want to add the ‘Goddess’ painting to tomorrow’s auction?”

Su Mingzhe’s eyes flickered.

He thought of the land he’d lost out on by just one thousand yuan a few days ago.

And then, the recent string of problems plaguing the Su Group’s subsidiaries.

He took a deep breath and made his decision. “I’m sure.”

The dishes Luo Xia recommended were delicious—even Su Tong, who cared little for food, found herself eating with relish.

After their meal, the three headed to the outdoor natural hot springs.

There were many pools, each separated by green bamboo—tranquil and private.

Su Tong changed into her swimsuit, donned a bathrobe, and followed Luo Xia and Xiao Shiwei inside.

Suddenly, she sensed something and stopped, glancing to the side.

A man with an impressive physique was emerging from one of the pools.

He wore only a pair of trunks; his body was lean and muscular, with beautifully defined abs.

Wet black hair clung to his forehead, beads of water trickling down his long neck to his chest, then to his abdomen.

He exuded an enticing allure.

His face was refined, with a sharp jawline and deep, captivating eyes—a unique, elegant aura surrounded him.

Su Tong stared, astonished.

Not because of his flawless physique, nor his handsome features, but because his entire being was suffused with the golden radiance of boundless merit.