That night, after dinner, Jing Wu returned to the attic, formed Hand Seals, and performed Instant Teleportation to a remote, uninhabited part of the deep forest.
With both hands forming seals, she chanted obscure incantations to summon the Ghost Gate.
Soon, a vermilion gate entwined with black mist appeared in mid-air.
A man dressed in white gauze, with a long tongue protruding and the characters “Fortune at First Sight” written on his hat, emerged from the Ghost Gate. Seeing the summoner, a smile flickered in his eyes.
“Little Jing Wu, why are you summoning the Ghost Gate today? Where is your master?”
“Master hasn’t come down the mountain; it’s just me alone.” Jing Wu looked up with a bright smile and released Zhu Zhu from her Cosmos Bag. “This person’s lingering attachments have been resolved. I trouble you, sir, to take her back to the Underworld.”
Bai Wuchang reviewed the girl’s life records and, confirming everything was in order, waved his hand to draw up the soul. Just as he was about to turn and leave, he sensed the presence of a Mystic Arts Practitioner nearby. After a moment’s contemplation, he spoke, “Convey my greetings to your master.”
With those words, he turned and walked back through the Ghost Gate.
Jing Wu was somewhat surprised. Watching the Ghost Gate vanish into the air, she withdrew her gaze and began pondering the meaning of his words.
Bai Wuchang and her master weren’t particularly close; why would he suddenly say something like that out of the blue?
Just as she was about to head back, she turned her head and saw Yue Huai standing beneath a tree not far away.
Jing Wu immediately noticed the abundant Spiritual Energy surrounding him and recognized him as the prodigious youth from that day. She walked toward him.
“What are you doing here?”
Yue Huai thoughtfully withdrew his gaze and replied calmly, “I was consulting on Feng Shui in the neighboring village when I sensed someone had opened a Ghost Gate here, so I came specifically to investigate.”
He looked at the person before him, concealing the astonishment in his eyes. Summoning the Ghost Gate required not only cultivation at the Divine Transformation Stage but also sufficient Spiritual Energy to succeed.
Within Xuanmen, fewer than ten individuals could successfully summon it. Among his generation, only Senior Brother Yun was capable.
Even with his own abundant inner Spiritual Energy and exceptional talent, without reaching the Divine Transformation Stage, he couldn’t summon the Ghost Gate.
The cultivation level of the person before him was only at the Foundation Establishment Stage. How had she managed to summon the Ghost Gate? Given how familiar Bai Wuchang seemed with her just now, she likely summoned it frequently.
Seeing the person before her gradually drift into thought, Jing Wu decided not to waste any more time. “What a coincidence. It’s getting late; I’m heading back to rest.”
With that, without waiting for a response, she turned and left.
Yue Huai wanted to call her back and ask for clarification, but considering it likely involved her sect’s secret techniques—and that she wouldn’t divulge them even if asked—he remained silent. He turned and returned to his lodgings, silently resolving to search for answers in the library archives when he returned to Xuanmen.
After Jing Wu returned home, she quickly washed up and went to bed.
Over the next few days, instead of going to South Street, she stayed home and followed Shao Che up the mountain to dig for winter bamboo shoots.
Five days later, the aunt and nephew pair headed to South Street to set up their stall. The day after tomorrow would be New Year’s Eve, and Shao Che planned to sell all the sweet potatoes today, buy some delicious food, and have a proper celebration.
Jing Wu thought the same. Having divined that a big business opportunity would come today, she planned to buy some meat after packing up the stall, so Aunt could make meat pies.
As soon as the two arrived at South Street, Second Master Chen, who had been sitting in front of the bun shop diagonally across, stood up and walked over.
“Master.”
Jing Wu looked up at him. Seeing the sorrow hidden in his eyes and the additional white hairs at his temples, she knew he still hadn’t moved past his daughter’s ordeal.
She looked at the bun shop with only a small side door open and asked, “Are you closed for business today?”
Second Master Chen shook his head and sighed deeply. “My wife fell ill because of Xiao Wan and hasn’t gotten out of bed these past few days. Yesterday, someone delivered tables and chairs, and from the description, it sounded like you. I guessed you’d probably come to set up your stall in the next couple of days, so I’ve been waiting here for you.”
Jing Wu followed him into the bun shop, moved the tables and chairs outside, and seeing his hesitant expression, asked, “Is there something you want to ask me?”
Second Master Chen helped arrange the tables and chairs, then said, “The night before last, the daughter of the You family died of illness. I heard she called out Xiao Wan’s name before she died. I’ve heard that after people die, their souls remain. I wanted to ask you, is my Xiao Wan’s soul still in this world?”
“Died?” Jing Wu glanced at him in surprise, then quickly calculated with her fingers.
So that’s how it is.
By all accounts, the You family’s daughter shouldn’t have died so early—it should have been at least half a year later. But that day, when Second Master Chen came to their door, the mother and daughter of the You family showed no remorse, which angered Chen Xiao Wan and hastened the taking of the You family’s daughter.
She paused before speaking. “She was before, but yesterday her lingering attachment was resolved. She has now entered the underworld and is no longer in the human realm.”
Hearing this, Second Master Chen knew he would never see his daughter again. He forced a smile. “It’s better that she’s not in the human realm. May she be reincarnated early and choose a better family.”
Seeing him like this, Jing Wu said nothing and sat down on the chair.
Knowing his daughter had gone for reincarnation, Second Master Chen didn’t linger any longer and went back to take care of his wife.
Jing Wu sat in the chair, watching his retreating figure, lost in thought.
Not long after, a girl of about seventeen or eighteen, wearing a dark blue cotton jacket, walked up to her and sat down in the chair.
Jing Wu examined her: an oval face, almond-shaped eyes, jet-black hair tied in double buns, adorned with a few beaded hairpins.
Although the fabric of her clothes wasn’t top quality, it wasn’t something an ordinary family could afford either.
Jing Wu watched as she slightly lifted her chin, took ten copper coins from her purse, and placed them on the table.
“I’ve heard you’re very skilled at fortune-telling. Can you tell me if my parents are still alive?”
Jing Wu accepted the ten coins, carefully studied her physiognomy, then calculated with her fingers, understanding the situation in her heart.
“Your eyebrows are too low, close to your eyes, and there are horizontal lines on the bridge of your nose, indicating a weak bond with your parents and that you left home at a young age. You were likely sold by your parents to a trafficker when you were very young and entered a wealthy household as a maidservant. Your parents’ palace is dark and dull—both your parents are no longer in this world.”
Hearing this, Jing’er felt a chill in her heart. It was true—she had been sold into the wealthy Shen family at the age of five. Because she caught the eye of Third Miss, she became her personal maid. Over a decade had passed since then, and she had indeed never seen her parents again.
She had originally thought that after her mistress passed away, she would regain her freedom, search for her parents, marry into a good family, and live a stable life.
Now it seemed that path was blocked, and she would have to reconsider what to do next.
“But…” Jing Wu stared into her eyes, interrupting her thoughts. “The center of your forehead is dark. Your life will be in danger soon.”
“What?” Jing’er didn’t react immediately and looked at the person before her. “Are you saying I’m going to die?”
Jing Wu nodded.
Jing’er, hearing these all-too-familiar words, immediately stopped believing her and chuckled softly, “So your next move should be to sell me a hundred-tael Talisman Paper that can resolve my life-threatening calamity, right?”
These charlatans were always best at swindling money this way!
Jing Wu frowned deeply upon hearing this—what nonsense was this?
Seeing the sarcastic look on the other person’s face, she suddenly understood what they meant.
They were implying she was a charlatan.
Jing Wu felt helpless, but considering the ten-coin divination fee they had given, she still decided to explain.
“Your life-threatening calamity doesn’t require Talisman Paper—it lies with your young lady.”
“My young lady?”
Jing Wu nodded, raised a hand to set up a protective barrier, and said, “Is your young lady planning to elope with someone tonight?”