Xi Mufu was deeply shocked.
It was her first time seeing wandering spirits. Normally, she should have been nervous, maybe even frightened—but at this moment, all that remained was a twitch at the corner of her mouth.
The situation in front of her was just too absurd.
The older man continued hitting Ma Yong: “I’ve been waiting for you to show filial piety! You gave all that gold and silver to other ghosts—if I don’t beat you, who will?!”
Xi Mufu couldn’t help but glance at Ma Yong.
Going to the wrong grave—he really deserved a beating.
The other old man was smaller and trembling as he added, “Boy, this incense shop is remarkable, surrounded by golden light. I feel a bit cold. We’d better leave quickly.” Then he jumped up and slapped Ma Yong on the head as well. “This unfilial great-grandson even came to the master! He’s trying to get my great-grandfather to completely knock it off!”
Xi Mufu: “……”
Um… you kind of… already are knocked off.
But still, this slap was warranted.
Ma Yong didn’t realize that his great-grandfather and grandfather weren’t just beating him in his dreams—they were doing it in reality too. He only felt pain all over his body and in his head.
“We’re actually not originally from Jingning Town,” he explained, holding his forehead and adding some background.
His great-grandfather had fled from the southwest to Jingning Town. After the war ended and life stabilized, his great-grandfather wished to return to the ancestral home, but the transportation back then was inconvenient, and the wish remained unfulfilled. Later, his grandfather inherited this desire and kept reminding Ma Yong’s father to return. His father even got accepted to a university in the southwest and settled there.
“But my great-grandfather and grandfather’s graves are here. Previously, my dad would come to pay respects. Last year, he fell and couldn’t move, so I came instead,” Ma Yong said, feeling wronged. “I came to honor my ancestors, but I ran into unclean things. What terrible luck!”
No sooner had he spoken than his grandfather’s slaps rained down again: “Unclean things my foot! Bad luck my foot! You fool, you burned all the money for the neighbors, don’t expect me to thank you!”
Xi Mufu: “……”
Quite the passionate outburst.
But deserved.
Ma Yong’s great-grandfather looked over, slightly puzzled: “Hmm, this little girl seems to be watching us, and she’s smiling. Can she see us? Will she collect us?”
Xi Mufu quickly averted her gaze, pretending she saw nothing.
“Don’t worry, she’s a master, it’s normal that she can see,” Ma Yong’s grandfather said, relaxed. “Dad, stop trembling. You’re not scared, are you? This little girl seems kind-hearted. She surely won’t collect us.”
Xi Mufu: “……”
She definitely wouldn’t collect souls—after all, she hadn’t learned how.
“Alright, dad, I trust you,” Ma Yong’s great-grandfather nodded, then jumped up and slapped Ma Yong again.
Xi Mufu: “……”
She felt if this continued, Ma Yong might actually die.
“I know why you were beaten in your dream,” she said to Ma Yong. “You paid respects at the wrong place. Your great-grandfather and grandfather’s graves are a bit higher up. The two graves you visited belong to someone else’s ancestors. That’s why your great-grandfather and grandfather were angry and beat you in your dream—they wanted to teach you a lesson and remind you to find the right place.”
Ma Yong: ???
He visited the wrong grave???
Mr. Liu was also stunned. Could someone really visit the wrong grave?!
“I… I didn’t know! I thought it was the right place…” Ma Yong said, feeling even more wronged. “The last time I came, it was five years ago with my wife, kids, and my dad to pay respects.”
Mainly because his great-grandfather and grandfather’s graves were deep in the mountains, surrounded by thick bushes and weeds. He had relied on memory and even carried a chopping knife to clear the path.
“You remembered wrong!” his grandfather shouted passionately again. “And you think you’re right?!”
Xi Mufu: “……”
Keep hitting him and his grandson will start crying.
“There’s a solution,” she said. “Find the right graves, pay your respects properly, and sincerely apologize to your great-grandfather and grandfather.” Her gaze subtly swept over the two ancestors behind Ma Yong. “That should do it.”
She was asking the two old men for confirmation.
Ma Yong’s grandfather was surprised: “Oh, she really can see us! Little girl, you’re right. He is my grandson. As long as he corrects himself sincerely, it’s fine.”
Xi Mufu smiled and added, “But make sure to pinpoint the location accurately. Don’t visit the wrong graves again.”
Ma Yong’s grandfather immediately understood and gave precise directions: “Just above those two graves, about a li away. He just needs a few more steps up the mountain.”
Xi Mufu relayed the message to Ma Yong.
Seeing her constantly look behind him, Ma Yong felt she was communicating with his great-grandfather and grandfather remotely.
Thinking this way, he respected Xi Mufu even more.
“Got it, I’ll go right away!” he promised. “I’ll hire some people and burn even more gold and silver for my great-grandfather and grandfather.”
At that moment, the pain in his head finally stopped.
—Because his grandfather stopped hitting him and instead patted him: “Good boy.”
Xi Mufu: “……”
“I had actually planned to move their graves back to the southwest ancestral home, so I could pay respects every month,” Ma Yong said, still shaken. “Good thing I hadn’t hired workers yet, or I might have dug up someone else’s ancestors.”
Xi Mufu: “……”
Filial, but not too much.
In any case, the matter was resolved smoothly.
“Master Xi, I really owe you this time! Without your help, I would have made a huge mistake!” Ma Yong bowed deeply, repeatedly expressing gratitude.
Mr. Liu stood proudly nearby. He had always said Master Xi could solve any problem for an old classmate!
This old classmate was a big businessman, knew many wealthy bosses, and he thought to remind him to bring more friends to Master Xi for fortune-telling.
Ma Yong didn’t just thank her verbally; he offered a reward of 500,000 yuan and said he wanted to buy five talismans from Xi Mufu, totaling 1.5 million yuan.
He heard from Mr. Liu that Master Xi’s talismans could save lives, and he wanted everyone in his family to carry one.
Xi Mufu waved her hand: “No need for so much.”
She had only conveyed the ancestors’ message and hadn’t exerted much effort.
But to Ma Yong, Master Xi was humbly downplaying her abilities. With such skill, earning money was deserved!
Ma Yong’s grandfather added: “Little girl, just accept it. If you hadn’t helped communicate, this fool would have caused a huge mess! Your incense shop is impressive, surrounded by golden light. You’re a great master. Any payment is worth it.”
Xi Mufu felt a little giddy from the praise. Was she really that amazing?
Yet she felt like she hadn’t done much.
In the end, she accepted the check, planning to donate the money—consider it accumulating merit. After all, she didn’t lack money.
·
After Ma Yong and Mr. Liu left, Xi Mufu was about to return to the courtyard. She turned her head and saw Shanqu Guan staring at her with a “how could you backstab me?” expression.
Xi Mufu: ?
Shanqu Guan glanced at her: “Just a few days apart, and you’ve opened your Heavenly Eye? I spent twenty years of cultivation to open mine and see wandering spirits.”
Xi Mufu: “……”
She had just cheated with her [Yin-Yang Eye] skill.
“You have exceptional talent, but you still need enlightenment,” Shanqu Guan circled her, making a bold guess. “Did Director Ji secretly teach you? Did he give you a little boost?”
Xi Mufu: “……”