All Chapters of The Shamanic Billionaire: Chapter 21
- Chapter 30
37 chapters
TWENTY-ONE
The darkness was intense, but the weight of his memories was even heavier.In a feverish blur of unconsciousness, Cai found himself in the middle of the hall of the Arrows. It looked just like it had a decade and half ago.He felt small again, his hands stained with dark ink from the fountain pen he'd crushed just to watch it pour onto the white silk rug.His family was gathered in the parlor, their voices sharp enough to cut through glass. They didn’t notice him hiding behind the heavy velvet curtains, a little guy watching the giants fight over his life."His mother cursed our family, and we nearly lost everything because of her filth," a woman’s voice hissed, sharp and dripping with disdain. "I don’t want anything from her in this house again. Not her books, not her jewelry, and certainly not anything relating to her."Then her gaze turned to the hallway, landing on five-year-old Cai. "And that includes him. Look at him. He’s a menace. He broke the 18th-century Cing vase yesterday
TWENTY TWO: Emily Wentworth
The mood in the room changed as soon as Emily Wentworth faced the elders. She carried herself with an elegance that was both striking and intimidating, a product of her family's name, a name that probably held more influence than the Arrows could ever hope to wield. "Mr. Arrows," she said, her voice smooth, while she offered Silas a respectful bow. She did the same for Grant, but when her gaze landed on Amelia, she simply brushed past her as if Amelia was just part of the hospital decor. Cyril couldn't contain himself any longer. His voice wavered between confusion and a hint of desperation. "What are you doing here, Emily?" Emily tilted her head slightly, a teasing smile flickering on her lips. "Oh, I came to see Cai, Cyril. Had no idea you'd be here." Cyril’s expression twisted, insecurity flashing across his face. Emily Wentworth. The girl who aced the entrance exams effortlessly. She is also the daughter of the Wentworths family, one of the Big Three Families in Lume Cit
TWENTY-THREE: The Shaman the city needs
Emily let out a bright laugh that suddenly cut through the heavy mood in the room. She jumped off the bed, smoothing out her skirt like she hadn't just been inches away from his face."Look at you, all rattled!" she teased, her eyes shimmering with mischief. "You’ve got this intimidating look with those cold eyes, Cai. I honestly didn’t think that line would get to you, but here you are blushing! You look flushed!"Cai’s expression shifted from surprise to a simmering intensity. He wasn’t one to be toyed with. And why is this girl acting so familiar?Before she could fully back away, he grabbed her wrist, yanking her back toward the bed with a decisive move."What if I had said yes?" Cai’s voice dropped, taking on a weightier tone. "What would you have done then?"Emily’s laughter faltered. She hadn’t expected him to push back like that. For a moment, the room fell silent again, charged with an awkward tension.SLAM.The hospital door flew open, hitting the stopper with a resounding b
TWENTY FOUR: We need you
Cai felt completely paralyzed by the sheer absurdity of what was happening. He glanced at Shane and Yura, who were staring at Emily as if she had just grown wings. After spending ten years gazing at rocks, learning simple tricks, reading books on Qilan Mountain, he was suddenly being told that he was the city’s spiritual savior."What is this girl talking about?" Cai's voice was flat, but his mind was racing. "What does it mean, the only shaman the city needs? I’m just a regular guy who just got back from exile a few weeks ago."Emily didn’t blink. "You have a calling, Cai. A calling to be a shaman."He let out a breath that was almost a laugh. "A calling? Shamanism isn’t exactly a hobby you just pick up, Emily. You need a lineage, a bloodline... it’s about family traditions. My family’s the Arrows. They worship money and corporate influence. I don’t see how that relates to me or the Arrows Family."Finally, Yura found her voice, and it was sharp with impatience. "I can't believe the
TWENTY FIVE
The luxury car waiting in the hospital parking lot was a stark contrast to the white walls and hospital smell they had just left behind. There, in a reserved spot, stood a cherry-red Ferrari Purosangue, its shiny paint glistening in the afternoon sun, almost like a polished ruby. Shane came to an abrupt stop, his jaw nearly hitting the ground. "No way," he whispered, eyes wide in disbelief. "Is that… is that the Purosangue? The V12?" Emily jingled the keys with a playful grin. "You've got a good eye, Shane." "Good eye? This is the car I have as my wallpaper!" Shane scrambled to pull out his phone, thrusting the screen in front of Emily. "I’ve literally had this as my background for six months! I can’t believe I’m seeing one in real life. It's a true masterpiece!" Yura leaned against the brick wall and sighed heavily, rolling her eyes. "Shane, try to keep your cool. You’re literally drooling on the pavement." Cai, on the other hand, didn’t share Yura’s fake indifference. He
TWENTY SIX: I will help you
Minister Tommy sat behind his big desk, hands clasped together, his face a mask of cold indifference.In front of him stood five men, the most powerful Shamans he had in his circle, those who had been moving the city’s tides for him for years. But now, they looked as if all the color had drained from their faces."So, let’s get this straight," Tommy started, his tone dangerously low. "You’re telling me that after all these years, not one of you has managed to reach the level needed to perform the Rite of the Golden Harvest? You've been working for me for over a decade, and you’re still not at that level of mastery?"The tension in the room escalated. In a sudden, furious sweep, he knocked everything off the desk, pens, fancy crystal decanters, and files scattered across the floor."Why have I been paying you?" he continued, his voice now a low and rhythmic tone. "I’ve got bigger dreams than just local power. I'm building something that will last for centuries, but a garden needs a ga
TWENTY SEVEN
“You really will?” Emily asked, her voice catching as she wiped tears from her face. She looked at him, caught between hope and uncertainty, as if she was holding back a shameful truth that Tommy easily sensed.Of course, Tommy thought, feeling a cold satisfaction wash over him. It makes sense that she wouldn’t want to admit the Wentworths rely on shamans to manipulate their business empire. Everything was starting to click, the sudden jump in their stock prices, the deal with Tegarite. It wasn’t just savvy management; it was spiritual. The supposedly “pure” Wentworth family was just as corrupt as everyone else, but better at concealing it.He leaned back in his chair, projecting a facade of deep empathy. “You know I care about the well-being of our citizens, Emily. I’ve committed my life to helping those in need. If your friend is in distress, I feel it’s my responsibility to assist. Can you tell me more about him? What’s troubling this young man?”Emily took a shaky breath, twist
TWENTY SEVEN: The Shaking of the Sanctuary
(one)
Below the estate lay a cold, windowless hall known as the sanctuary, its air thick with the scent of damp stone and bitter herbs. A massive circular design carved into the granite floor was filled with symbolic runes that seemed to pulse softly in the dim light.Cai lay in the middle of that circle, wrapped in layers of stark white cloth, his skin appearing like bruised parchment. His eyes were closed, and his breathing was so shallow it hardly stirred the fabric above his chest. Around him, the "symbolic signs" formed a sort of cage, crafted by Tommy’s men to capture every ounce of power leaking from his soul.In one corner, Emily stood trembling. Tears had streaked her face, and her hands gripped a damp handkerchief. Next to her, Minister Tommy stood like a rock of support, his hand resting softly on her shoulder."Don’t cry, Emily," he murmured, his voice smooth as silk. "These spiritual masters are the best in the field. They know precisely what they’re doing."He glanced down a
TWENTY NINE: Time to pay your debt
The heavy iron doors of the sanctuary creaked open, the sound of metal scraping against the stone floor echoing around the room.Minister Tommy froze in place. His hand was still stretched out, fingers shaking with the anticipation of a power that had suddenly vanished. He glanced from the now-open doors to the figure standing proudly in the center of the ritual circle. Cai wasn’t just awake, he stood tall, his spine straight, his eyes locking onto Tommy’s with an intensity that felt like a death sentence."You..." Tommy managed to whisper, the word choking him.The other Shamans staggered backward, their tambourines falling to the ground with a hollow thud. They had devoted their lives to sensing spiritual weakness, and the overwhelming force radiating from Cai was like a big wave of ancient power.Suddenly, a figure stepped through the doorway.Deurido entered, wrapped in heavy, crimson-black robes that hadn’t graced his shoulders in a decade. He bore no resemblance to the broken
Chapter 30: The Two-Day Gap and a Birthday
The ringing in Cai’s ears was piercing, like a sharp needle stitching through his brain. He shut his eyes tight, but the darkness was far from empty. He could see flashes of green mist rolling over mountains, that long, pale arm from his vision, and a swirl of whispers that didn’t seem to come from anyone alive.Ever since handling Minister Tommy, things had felt this way. His body was like a radio stuck between five different channels, all at once.Then, just like that, the noise disappeared. The sudden silence felt heavy, his breath ragged in the stillness. When Cai opened his eyes, his chest was heaving. The luxurious ceiling of his Uncle Andrew’s room, with its gold-leaf molding and crystal chandelier, looked almost surreal after the wild energy he had experienced just four days ago.Deurigo and people relating to the evil things done had all been arrested and currently, Tommy is awaiting trial.Pushing himself up, Cai's muscles cried out in protest from the deep exhaustion. He