Chapter 922: A Little Fakery Goes a Long Way

“‘Fakery’ and ‘excellence’? What does that mean?” Lin Dongxue asked.

KK animatedly explained, “Fakery means fake stuff, and excellence means top-notch skills, the real deal. The saying comes from old street performers: ‘Only the best without fakery starves you, all fakery leaves you empty, but fakery mixed with the best works like magic.’ It means mixing a bit of real skill with fakery keeps the act going. Even in the old days, traveling performers had to have some genuine skills, or they couldn’t survive… So, I think this Taoist might have some real abilities.”

“How much do you know about Taoism?” Chen Shi asked. “The whole Taoist system doesn’t have any skills for showboating. Exorcising demons is just a metaphor for overcoming personal obstacles. I’m sure everything in this video is just trickery.”

KK said, “I mean, his tricks might involve real effort and skill, making them look impressive.”

“Haha, you’re saying this Taoist is a seasoned magician,” Lin Dongxue laughed.

“Something like that,” KK chuckled.

Chen Shi pondered, “So he’s a traveling con man. KK, can you find out more about him through your connections?”

KK smirked, as if holding back something. “Real intel isn’t found by sitting at home and typing on a keyboard. Hold on a sec…” He opened a desk drawer, took out a large envelope, and handed it to Chen Shi. “Chen, I pulled a lot of strings for these papers.”

“I’ll pay you back.”

“No need, Wang will cover it… Just make sure you let him know.”

Chen Shi sat on the sofa and opened the envelope. Lin Dongxue sat close to him, causing KK and Sun Zhen to envy their intimacy.

The Taoist’s real name was Liao Zitong, born in 1975 in a county in Guizhou. His parents were factory workers. After graduating from junior high, he went to a technical school where he got involved with a girl, who became pregnant due to their ignorance. The girl’s brother gave him trouble, and her family threatened to sue him, which was serious back then. Facing a potential criminal charge for corrupting a minor, Liao fled overnight.

He survived by conning people and begging. From 1997 to 1999, he mysteriously disappeared, supposedly learning skills from a master. In 1999, he reemerged as a Taoist named Liao Chunhuang, targeting wealthy individuals. His first big mark was a Hong Kong investor, from whom he swindled a significant amount using magic tricks and persuasion. However, he soon squandered his fortune due to a gambling addiction, almost losing his hand in Macau over unpaid debts.

Desperate, he continued targeting rich, elderly individuals. Despite making substantial sums, his gambling debts always outweighed his earnings. In 2009, he vanished for ten years, resurfacing with a team, likely organized by his debtors to ensure he paid off his debts. The informant also mentioned that during his absence, his wife had been imprisoned.

The handwritten notes, subjective and detailed about Liao’s cons, skimped on the imprisonment of his wife. Chen Shi thought it was a mix of hearsay and fabrications but provided a useful lead.

“This reads like a novel, and the handwriting is terrible,” Chen Shi commented.

“Chen, you have to make do. Getting this info wasn’t easy. ‘Star Taoists’ are a secretive group. This intel came from another ‘Star Taoist’ who once dined with Liao Chunhuang.”

“‘Star Taoist’? You mean a fake Taoist?”

“Yes, those claiming to exorcise demons are all fakes. It’s a business, part of the con game. The best part is, it’s hard to get caught. Rich people feel reassured after these rituals, thinking they got a great deal even if they were scammed out of millions.”

“Are there many fake Taoists?” Lin Dongxue asked.

“Not too many. It’s a niche market,” KK replied.

Sun Zhen interjected, “You sound uneducated. ‘Niche market’? What next, ‘many monks, little meat’?”

KK shrugged, “I’m just trying to be funny for sister-in-law. Can’t I?”

Lin Dongxue chuckled, “So, what’s Liao Chunhuang’s goal with Mr. Lu?”

“Money, what else? Con men are after cash,” KK said.

“Since we’re involved now, we can’t just ignore it. Scamming someone to the point of losing everything is nearly the same as murder, which is why fraud can lead to the death penalty. Given Mr. Lu’s current state, he might give his entire company to Liao Chunhuang,” Chen Shi said.

“From what Wang told me, Mr. Lu has been hospitalized for most of the past six months. Despite his wealth, he can’t escape aging. After meeting Liao Chunhuang, he stopped treatments and began fasting and meditating. He even conducts regular longevity rituals and adopted a ‘new son,’ acting like he’s possessed,” Sun Zhen added.

“A new son?” Chen Shi asked.

“Yeah, the guy we saw that day. Apparently, he’s the reincarnation of Mr. Lu’s favorite second son, discovered by Liao Chunhuang through some spiritual journey. The ‘new son’ knows everything about the second son, so Mr. Lu believes him completely. He even changed his will. Wang is worried sick,” Sun Zhen explained.

Everyone knew Mr. Lu’s affection for his late second son, who died six years ago in a kidnapping. Lin Dongxue remarked, “Unbelievable! His second son died six years ago. This ‘reincarnation’ can’t be six years old. If Wang Haitao goes from heir to nothing, it would be devastating.”

Chen Shi nodded, “I noticed Wang Haitao’s hair is starting to gray, probably from stress. Liao Chunhuang’s ambitions are vast. He wants to take over Lu’s entire company. We need to stop him.”

“It’s simple. Just alert the anti-fraud team. They’ll catch Liao Chunhuang by tonight,” Lin Dongxue suggested.

“But we need to bring Mr. Lu back from this delusion. Arresting Liao will only make him more resistant, possibly leading to extreme actions,” Chen Shi countered.

“You’re surprisingly considerate. It’s like quitting drugs; you must cut off the supply first,” Lin Dongxue mused.

“Even quitting drugs requires a gradual replacement therapy… Wait, what if we fight fire with fire and con Mr. Lu back?” Chen Shi proposed.