After Swapping Lives, the Metaphysics Side Character Became the Wealthy Family's Beloved - Chapter 3

Li Qiao discreetly scanned the faces of the people around her.

Since her return, surprises had been waiting at every turn.

Outside, the commotion grew louder.

Li Qiao decided to step out and see what was happening.

“Qiaoqiao… don’t go…” Liu Yusi, her mother, tried to stop her, but Li Qiao was already walking out.

The crowd was demanding repayment from the Li family—by name.

Li Shaojin, her elder brother, was negotiating with them, asking for a few more days. But the creditors were done with excuses. The delays had gone on long enough.

The leader of the group, a burly man with a face full of scars and a menacing aura, spat out, “Enough talk. If you don’t pay up now, don’t blame me for what happens next.”

“We’re short on cash flow. Give me three days, and I’ll gather the money,” Li Shaojin insisted.

“If you’re broke, that’s fine,” the man sneered, his eyes sliding toward Li Qiao. “We’ll take her as collateral. This little girl looks fresh enough.”

The others laughed darkly.

Li Shaojin’s expression turned icy in an instant.

“That’s my sister. Watch your mouths.”

“Ha! Still acting like the young master of the Li family? You’re about to go bankrupt. If you can’t pay, I’ll make sure you regret it.”

The man’s face was vicious, a thick cloud of dark energy swirling between his brows.

Li Qiao smiled faintly.

The scarred man’s eyes lit up. Was this girl actually charmed by his tough-guy act?

“You’re forty-five years old,” she began, her voice calm. “At five, your parents drowned in a reservoir, leaving you to survive on the kindness of strangers. You’ve been married for ten years but have no children. Am I right?”

The man’s jaw dropped.

“How… how do you know that?”

“I know a lot more than that,” she continued, her smile unwavering. “I also know you’ve taken three lives. And you—”

“Shut up! You—you’re a demon!”

The man’s face twisted in terror. These were secrets only he knew. How could she possibly—?

Li Qiao’s grin widened.

To him, her once-pleasant face now looked like something straight out of a nightmare.

Before he could flee, she leaned in slightly and whispered, “Uncle, aren’t you afraid the people you killed might come back for revenge? For example… do you feel that cold breath on your cheek?”

The man froze.

A chilling sensation brushed against his face. His nerves snapped.

With a bloodcurdling scream, he turned and bolted.

His lackeys exchanged glances before scrambling after him.

Li Qiao watched them go, amused. As she turned, her gaze accidentally met a pair of deep, frost-like eyes.

A man stood on the second-floor balcony of the neighboring house.

Noble in bearing, with striking features that commanded attention, he was undeniably handsome.

But what truly stood out was the aura around him—violet and gold energy swirled above him, the unmistakable sign of imperial destiny.

The majestic presence of a true dragon… yet cursed with a tragically short life.

For cultivators and spirits, a body like his was a rare treasure.

What a pity… he’s going to die soon.

Li Qiao shook her head slightly.

“Qiaoqiao… Qiaoqiao?”

Snapping out of her thoughts, she blinked. “Sorry, what did you say?”

“How did you know all that about him? And why was he so scared? Unless…”

Li Qiao shrugged. “His face told me everything. As for why he ran… well, he won’t last much longer.”

Not with that little friend clinging to his shoulder.

Seeing her smile, Li Shaojin shuddered.

The siblings returned inside.

Meanwhile, the man next door finally looked away.

“Ninth Master, our men have already gone to Nan City to search for Master Qingxu. We should have news of his whereabouts soon.”

The man referred to as “Ninth Master” absently ran his fingers over the sandalwood beads on his wrist. A faint crack ran through one of them.

…

Later…

Li Qiao was given a room on the second floor.

Now, she needed to buy talisman paper. Slinging a small bag over her shoulder, she headed out.

She declined Li Shaojin’s offer to accompany her—his phone kept ringing, and he and Li Shanchuan soon left for the company. The Li family’s troubles were far from over.

Li Qiao wandered into the antique market and found a shop selling exactly what she needed—supplies for Taoist rituals.

“Talisman paper.”

“How much do you want, miss?”

“All of it.” These things were never in excess. Before leaving, her mother had slipped her a bank card—her last bit of savings. Li Qiao planned to repay her as soon as she earned some money.

The shopkeeper’s eyes widened. “I have at least ten pounds of paper here…”

Who needed that much? Was she just messing with him?

“Where do you live, miss? I can deliver it for you.” That way, she can’t back out.

Li Qiao waved a hand. “No need. I can take it now. Just put everything in my bag.”

The shopkeeper stared. Was this a joke?

Seeing his disbelief, Li Qiao didn’t bother explaining. Instead, she asked for cinnabar ink, pulled out a sheet of paper, and began drawing a talisman.

The shopkeeper raised an eyebrow. This girl…

Drawing talismans was a sacred act.

It required purification, focus, and spiritual power. What she was doing? Child’s play.

Still, money was money. He could humor her.

When she finished, she slapped the talisman onto her bag and smirked. “Load it up.”

Fine, let’s play along. But no crying later.

He started stuffing paper into her tiny bag.

And then more.

And more.

The bag, impossibly, kept swallowing everything.

The shopkeeper’s forehead beaded with sweat.

How?!

Li Qiao wasn’t just buying paper—she also picked out several other items.

“Miss… what is this bag?”

“An expansion talisman. Makes the bag bigger. Handy, right?” she said casually.

“An expansion talisman? I’ve been in this business for decades and never heard of such a thing!”

“Oh, well, it didn’t exist before. I came up with it when I was bored. Works pretty well, though.”

Now she could shop without lugging around a giant bag.

Came up with it? When bored?!

The shopkeeper gulped.

Drawing talismans was hard. Just who was this girl?

After sweeping through the shop’s inventory, Li Qiao’s eyes landed on a set of Five Emperor coins.

The shopkeeper brightened and hurriedly handed them to her.

“Master… please, take these. Could you… spare a few talismans for me?”

“Sure.”

“Thank you, Master!”

“Don’t call me ‘Master.’ I prefer ‘Abbot Li.’” She liked the title.

“Of course! Which temple do you preside over?”

“Xiangyun Temple.”

The shopkeeper drew a blank.

After drawing three talismans for him—a Wealth Talisman, a Treasure Talisman, and a Thunder Summoning Talisman—Li Qiao left.

The shopkeeper, trembling with excitement, immediately set up an altar for them.

On her way home, Li Qiao passed through a quiet alley.

A strained gasp echoed from within.

Curious, she stepped inside.

There, she recognized the man from before.

“Well, well,” she mused. “If it isn’t Mr. Short-Lived.”