“Happy New Year!” Xi Mufu said, tilting her head back to watch the fireworks.
Ji Jiu replied, “Happy New Year.”
The two stood in the courtyard admiring the fireworks. Xi Mufu recalled how the town used to have fireworks and performances in the past. Her grandfather would always encourage her to go have fun, saying children should enjoy lively celebrations. She found herself missing him now.
Ji Jiu didn’t miss the shift from joy to nostalgia in her eyes. After a moment of silence, he suddenly asked, “Would you like to watch them up close?”
Xi Mufu turned to him, somewhat puzzled.
Ji Jiu explained, “The fireworks are set off on Front Street. They should look better from a closer distance. If you’d like to go, we can use a Space Teleportation Item.”
Qin Yi had already discovered that Xi Mufu’s grandfather was still in the underworld. However, since Ji Jiu hadn’t revealed his identity yet, he couldn’t make the old man appear. Changing the subject was his only option for now.
Xi Mufu was taken aback but found herself genuinely curious about trying out her newly acquired item.
“Is that alright?” she hesitated. “But Front Street will be crowded. If we suddenly appear among people, we’ll definitely scare them… How about we go to the mountain peak instead?”
To the west of Jingning Town stood a moderately high mountain with beautiful scenery. Tourists visiting the ancient town often hiked up there.
She had never watched fireworks from the mountaintop before – it would surely be a unique experience.
Ji Jiu nodded. “That works.”
Xi Mufu checked the item specifications. This [Space Teleportation Scroll] could transport up to seven people, meaning she could bring Ji Jiu along!
“Great.” Ji Jiu didn’t mention that he could teleport on his own.
Xi Mufu activated the scroll.
In the blink of an eye, they reached the mountain peak without any sensation of dizziness.
“How marvelous!” Xi Mufu couldn’t help but exclaim.
Though she had used Otherworldly skills and items multiple times, each experience still felt extraordinary to her.
Looking down from the summit, she could see fireworks blooming in the night sky, illuminating the entire ancient town. Against the backdrop of the town’s glittering lights, the view was indescribably beautiful.
“So beautiful,” she murmured in admiration.
Ji Jiu remained silent, quietly accompanying her until the fireworks display ended.
—As an eternal deity who had witnessed oceans turn to fields and human civilizations transform, everything from ancient fire displays to modern brilliant fireworks were but fleeting clouds in his eyes.
After the fireworks, they used the scroll to return to the courtyard.
It was past midnight now. The professors and students who had stayed up to see in the new year had already retired.
“Good night,” Xi Mufu said cheerfully to Ji Jiu. “Let me say it again – Happy New Year, Ninth Master!”
Ji Jiu smiled. “Happy New Year. Good night.”
·
The next day was the first day of the new year. Xi Mufu visited the family graves on the mountain to pay respects to her grandparents and parents, again using the teleportation scroll.
With no other obligations since she had no remaining relatives to visit for new year greetings, she found herself with ample free time. However, townsfolk sent their younger family members to extend new year wishes to her. Sister Wang and President Liu, whom she had helped before, even came personally with generous gifts.
Beyond these visits, she had plenty of leisure time, which she devoted entirely to Talisman-making.
Her Talisman-making skill had leveled up again, granting her the Evil-Expelling Talisman blueprint. However, this talisman seemed significantly more difficult to create. She struggled with it, attempting multiple times without success.
“It appears the higher the level, the greater the difficulty,” Xi Mufu muttered to herself.
Ji Jiu offered guidance: “Try channeling some Gong De into it.”
Xi Mufu actually didn’t know how to proceed. Previously when she drew Protection Talismans, she hadn’t deliberately infused them with Gong De – it had formed naturally. She felt she still couldn’t properly control Gong De, and now being asked to specifically channel it into an Evil-Expelling Talisman left her somewhat uncertain.
While she was struggling to comprehend this, the third day of the new year arrived, and Shanqun Abbot indeed came to Jingning Town.
“Xiao Fu, Happy New Year!” Shan Qu smiled as he entered, handing Xi Mufu a red envelope.
Xi Mufu was surprised – she actually received a red envelope.
“I count as your elder,” Shan Qu said with a beaming smile. “Giving you a red envelope is only proper.”
Xi Mufu felt warmth in her heart and said moved, “Thank you, Abbot!”
Ji Jiu, standing nearby, glanced at the red envelope in her hand and frowned slightly.
He’d heard that humans give children lucky money on New Year’s Eve, but that night he hadn’t prepared anything.
So that afternoon, Xi Mufu received a red envelope from the Director of the Special Administration Bureau, containing a 100g gold bar.
Xi Mufu: ?
Though happy to receive gold, she was also bewildered. Was today some special occasion? Why would Ninth Master suddenly give her gold?
Ji Jiu: “New Year’s gift.”
Xi Mufu: !
This New Year’s gift really hit the spot!
But… she hadn’t prepared any gift for him…
Ji Jiu noticed her hesitation and said calmly, “No need. I lack nothing.”
This was true – as the Nether Lord who controlled all six realms, the entire six realms belonged to him. He genuinely lacked nothing.
Xi Mufu frowned slightly. Though the other party lacked nothing, she couldn’t not return the gesture.
Remembering Ji Jiu’s love for tea, she planned to find someone to buy some premium tea leaves for him. Coincidentally, a neighbor in town had their own tea garden, and each year’s first spring harvest produced excellent single-bud-single-leaf tea reserved for family or important guests. She needed to hurry and place an order.
Thinking this, she immediately took out her phone and sent a message to the neighbor.
·
Just as Xi Mufu finalized her order for the first spring tea harvest with her neighbor, President Liu’s voice came from the front courtyard: “Xi Da Shi, are you home?”
Xi Mufu was quite surprised. President Liu had already come to pay New Year’s respects on the first day – why was he here again today?
She quickly went out and saw President Liu standing with a tall, thin middle-aged man who looked exhausted with severe dark circles under his eyes, as if he hadn’t slept for several nights.
“What’s wrong?” she asked curiously.
President Liu immediately explained respectfully: “This is Ma Yong, my childhood friend. We grew up together in the village. When he was ten, his whole family moved to settle in the southwest, and we haven’t seen each other for many years. He returned this time to pay respects to his great-grandfather and grandfather, but after yesterday’s worship, he had nightmares all night – in his dreams, his great-grandfather and grandfather gave him a men’s doubles beating.”
“Yes, it hurt terribly,” Ma Yong said, both confused and wronged. “Don’t be fooled by me standing properly before you – I’m actually in pain all over… Xi Da Shi, Old Liu says your magical abilities are exceptional. Please help me see what’s wrong. Did I encounter something unclean when I went up the mountain to pay respects?”
Xi Mufu carefully examined the space between his eyebrows – there was indeed dark energy shrouding it. It seemed he had encountered something unclean, though it didn’t appear life-threatening.
She suddenly remembered she had Yin-Yang Eyes and should be able to see if Ma Yong was being followed by any unclean entities, so she quickly activated the ability.
The next second, her eyes widened in shock.
She saw two elderly men following behind Ma Yong, their faces somewhat resembling his.
One of the old men was slapping Ma Yong’s forehead with his palm, cursing in a southwestern accent: “You dumb kid, my grave is up there! You went to the wrong grave, and you still have the nerve to come find a master! Get the hell out of here!”
Xi Mufu: “…”