Sister Sun was about to faint from anger at her failing son. Poor grades were one thing, but a bad attitude toward learning—and now copying others’ homework!
“Xiao Ran’s grades are excellent. Why don’t you just ask him for help instead of copying his homework? I swear, you’re asking for trouble!”
Once they got home, that naughty child was definitely going to get a scolding.
Indeed, Jiang Ran’s grades were exceptional. From kindergarten, he had always been at the top. In elementary school, he consistently earned first place in city-wide exams. No wonder Hong Jie and her husband were so proud.
And precisely because their child was outstanding, losing him had left the couple heartbroken.
Xiao Sheng pouted. “I just can’t learn… maybe my IQ is low… I heard IQ comes from mom…”
“You little brat!” Sister Sun quickly covered his mouth, stopping him from finishing, lest she lose face in front of Xi Mufu.
Xi Mufu found it amusing but pretended not to hear.
“By the way, how did you see Xiao Ran?” Sister Sun awkwardly changed the topic.
Logically, her son was over ten years old—far past the age when children could easily see spirits like infants could.
Xiao Sheng: “I don’t know. I just remember one day I had breakfast and went out to play. I saw Xiao Ran walking outside his family’s shop, so I went over to greet him.”
Sister Sun: “…”
Xi Mufu: “…”
This kid really had guts.
Xi Mufu studied Xiao Sheng’s life palace carefully. “Perhaps the fireworks and firecrackers during the New Year were too loud. He got scared the night before, which destabilized his soul the next day, allowing him to see the spirit.”
Sister Sun recalled: “Right, right. A few days before the New Year, the shop next to ours set off firecrackers. My son happened to pass by and turned pale from fright. It took him a long time to recover. Later, when his color returned and he seemed fine, I didn’t think much of it—but it still affected him.”
“That night, I had a nightmare,” Xiao Sheng looked up and told his mother. “I dreamt that you were sick. I kept crying… Mom, I love you. Please don’t be sick…”
Sister Sun opened her mouth, struck by a mix of emotions.
Who could understand that feeling? One moment, she felt embarrassed by her child; the next, she was moved to tears.
“You little rascal,” she said again, but this time her tone was full of affection.
Xi Mufu watched silently, thinking that this was probably the joy and happiness of raising children.
“Then why was Xiao Ran lingering outside his family’s shop?” After being moved, Sister Sun curiously asked Xi Mufu. “He passed away during summer break, so shouldn’t he have already gone to the afterlife?”
Xi Mufu glanced at Jiang Ran.
Jiang Ran scratched his head. “I don’t know. Maybe I didn’t want to leave my parents… I formed an attachment.”
His soul would consistently appear outside his family shop and at the base of the residential building. He just wanted to see his parents. Unfortunately, in the past six months, he hadn’t been able to.
Sister Sun sighed. “After your passing, your parents were devastated and refused to see anyone. They probably hardly went out.”
Jiang Ran looked melancholic. “If only I hadn’t gone for a walk by the river…”
Then he wouldn’t have fallen in, and his parents wouldn’t have suffered.
Sister Sun, full of sympathy, reached through the air to pat his head, then looked troubled as she turned to Xi Mufu. “Little Fu, is there a way to let Xiao Ran out without harming him?”
She had watched Jiang Ran grow up. Such a good child—how could she bear to see his soul destroyed?
But she also wanted to save her son, so she had to rely on Xi Mufu, hoping she had a solution that could save both.
Xi Mufu had only recently started practicing the mystic arts. She truly didn’t know how to extract a spirit without harming it.
At that moment, Elder Zhang San behind her reminded her: “Try controlling the merits you have.”
Earlier, when Xi Mufu ran out to meet Sister Sun, not only Ji Jiu followed, but also the two elders and Shan Huqi. They had remained silent, quietly observing her handle the situation.
Now, seeing her face a challenge, they offered guidance.
Xi Mufu’s comprehension was fast; she instantly understood Elder Zhang San’s meaning.
If she could control her merits’ golden light, she could avoid harming Jiang Ran’s soul.
She concentrated, gathering her energy, and began adjusting and controlling her merits.
Golden halos gradually appeared around her, soon enveloping her completely.
Sister Sun was amazed. She couldn’t help but exclaim: “Little Fu, you really look like gold right now!”
Xi Mufu: “…”
She liked gold, and took Sister Sun’s words as praise.
She focused her mind, carefully using her merits to gradually envelop and protect Xiao Sheng’s soul. Inevitably, the golden light brushed Jiang Ran’s spirit as well.
“Does anything feel uncomfortable? Any burning sensation?” she asked Jiang Ran.
He shook his head. “It’s a little warm, but not painful.”
Good!
Xi Mufu knew she was getting the hang of it. She continued using her merits to protect Xiao Sheng, slowly pushing Jiang Ran’s soul out.
Sister Sun watched strands of golden light shine down from Xi Mufu onto her son, marveling at the sight.
Having heard neighbors praise Xi Mufu in town, she trusted her completely. Seeing her act so decisively now, she regarded Xi Mufu as a master, calming down to wait for her to save both children.
After about ten minutes, Jiang Ran finally exited Xiao Sheng’s body, and neither child’s soul was harmed.
If Xiao Sheng’s soul had been damaged, he might have become mentally impaired. Fortunately, Xi Mufu had been careful.
“All done.” Fine beads of sweat appeared on Xi Mufu’s forehead. It was her first time using such a large-scale display of merit golden light, and she felt fatigued.
She suddenly realized that thanks to Grandpa Ma Yong gifting her plenty of merits yesterday, she could complete this high-level soul separation.
“Little Fu, thank you! You worked so hard!” Sister Sun hugged her son and expressed heartfelt gratitude to Xi Mufu.
She could see Xi Mufu had exerted herself fully to save her son. Though the golden light faded and Xi Mufu returned to normal appearance, her image in Sister Sun’s mind remained majestic—she now regarded her as semi-immortal.
Xi Mufu waved her hand.
Sister Sun paused, glanced at her son, and softly asked: “Is Xiao Ran still here?”
Xiao Sheng nodded.
Sister Sun was silent for a moment, then looked at Xi Mufu. “Poor Xiao Ran… I wonder if he could be sent to reincarnate?”
She wanted Xiao Ran to reunite with his parents, but considering that Hong Jie and her husband were still grieving, and that Xiao Ran would eventually go to the afterlife, appearing once then disappearing would only deepen their sorrow. So she didn’t mention it.
Hearing this, her son strongly objected: “I don’t want Xiao Ran to reincarnate. Can he stay? I want him to help me with my homework…” Seeing his mother’s sharp look, he cleverly amended: “I mean, I want Xiao Ran to teach me!”
Sister Sun: “…”
Xi Mufu: “…”
Not bad—this kid may have poor grades, but he was pretty clever.