The morning sun rose in the east, its rays falling upon the damp grave soil.
The fluttering paper money resembled butterflies dancing in the light.
Yu Yang stood dressed in plain white alongside Xie Chi, who was similarly clad in white robes.
At the front were Magistrate Su and his wife, along with Jiao Jiayin’s half-gray-haired wet nurse.
Kneeling before the tombstone was Su Yingqian, his head bowed low.
It had only been one night since they last met.
Yet the man who had sported jet-black hair yesterday now had strands of silver mixed within, a sight that struck fear into the heart.
Sobs intermingled with the morning birds’ songs.
As Madam Li let out a startled cry, the wet nurse fainted into her arms.
Yu Yang hurried forward to support the woman, briefly checking her pulse.
“Disrupted qi and blood, clouded clear orifices—likely fainting from excessive emotional distress. After returning home, administer a prescription to soothe the liver and regulate qi…”
She paused, then said to Madam Li, whose eyes were also swollen from crying, “Aunt, please accept my condolences.”
Madam Li shook her head while weeping.
“A good child… a child I watched grow up…”
She broke down in tears once more, unable to continue.
Magistrate Su stepped forward to support Madam Li, saying, “Madam, you and Aunt Jiao should return home to rest. Aunt Jiao is the only family A Yin has left in this world. I’m sure A Yin would be concerned about her even in the afterlife. We must take good care of Aunt Jiao so that child A Yin may rest peacefully in the netherworld.”
Madam Li nodded vigorously.
“I understand. From now on, Aunt Jiao will live with us.”
Servants came to help escort them to the carriage.
Magistrate Su glanced at Su Yingqian, then turned to look at Yu Yang.
“A Yan…”
Yu Yang said, “I’ve also heard about it—another case of rape and murder occurred outside the city this morning, and the suspect has already been captured. Uncle, please go attend to your duties. I’ll stay here to watch over Brother Yingqian.”
Magistrate Su, his eyes red-rimmed, gently patted Yu Yang’s arm.
“Thank you.”
As he walked toward the carriage, he paused upon seeing Xie Chi, then bowed in salute.
Clearly, when Xie Chi had previously visited Su Yingqian to inquire about Gao Tuo, the magistrate had already guessed that Xie Chi was someone of extraordinary status.
Xie Chi returned the salute and watched as Magistrate Su departed.
The gathered crowd gradually dispersed.
In that moment, only Su Yingqian, Xie Chi, Yu Yang, and the still-hidden Sikong Shi remained.
Sikong Shi emerged from the woods.
The yellow paper on his body had changed.
[Auspicious: Sacrifice, Pray for Offspring, Consecration, Travel…]
[Inauspicious: Seek Medical Treatment, Plant, Weave Nets]
Yu Yang watched Sikong Shi.
Sikong Shi walked to the graveside and bowed slightly.
After rising, he said to Xie Chi, “So I don’t understand why Huangshang divided the Celestial Guard into four divisions. Wouldn’t it be better to follow convention and kill on sight?”
Xie Chi said, “The National Preceptor said that ghosts only possess the bodies of the deceased and do not devour living souls.”
“But they should still be killed. Shouldn’t we hate seeing our loved ones’ bodies defiled?”
Sikong Shi raised his voice slightly, “Of course, I have no issue with Nan Wei. That woman Huan Panyan has turned Nan Wei into the Netherworld, waiting to inflict eighteen forms of cruel punishment on ghosts. It’s harsh, but deserved. Your Bei Wei… is also acceptable. The National Preceptor, after all, is one hundred thirty years old—practically half immortal. If he claims he can communicate with yin and yang, then give him a year or two to try. But!”
He said irritably, “What’s the deal with Xi Wei? Ghosts are ghosts! What kind of execution method is killing with kindness? A Heng, I think we can cooperate. Since your Duke Su’an Manor has a grudge against Pei Jian, let’s form a united front. We’ll snatch all the ghosts from Xi Wei and make that Pei Jian lose face…”
Xie Chi said with a smile, “Now you’re all coming to my territory one after another.”
Sikong Shi said, “We’re all here to catch ghosts, why are you making a fuss? I just can’t accept it—they say the more ghosts you encounter, the better your fate. In just over a month, you’ve encountered four, oh, with this one it’s five, while I’ve only encountered two! Just two! Doesn’t that mean your fate is better than mine…”
Yu Yang frowned as she listened to Sikong Shi’s incessant grumbling.
She spoke up, “Is Young Master Sikong suffering from a sore throat?”
Sikong Shi disliked Yu Yang intensely.
Therefore, he wasn’t very willing to speak with Yu Yang.
But hearing Yu Yang’s question, he paused for a moment, then nodded and said, “Yes, a bit. Last night I was vomiting and had diarrhea, and when I woke up this morning, my throat hurt too, though it’s much better now. You actually noticed, kid? Your medical skills are quite good.”
Yu Yang said, “It was probably because the water in that vat last night wasn’t clean. The water might have been mixed with some feces, which Young Master Sikong drank. How about I write you a prescription when I return home?”
Sikong Shi: “…” Mixed with some feces…
Drank it…
He stared at Yu Yang.
Yu Yang asked expressionlessly, “Do you want it?”
This counted as seeking medical treatment.
Symptoms and cause had both appeared.
She thought silently.
“Caw—caw—” Suddenly, two more crows cried out.
Xie Chi pulled Yu Yang back a step.
Sikong Shi also reflexively jumped away and landed in a clump of grass.
He was about to look up and mock the crows, but his laughter turned into a scream at his lips.
“Ha—damn you—”
A snake quickly slithered away, making a “gala gala” sound.
Sikong Shi sat on the ground, his expression extremely unpleasant.
“Storage Snake…”
Yu Yang said, “Storage Snakes are highly venomous.”
Xie Chi was also startled.
“Sikong Shi, have you been having bad luck lately?”
Sikong Shi looked up despairingly, “Yes, bad luck. Why have I been so unlucky ever since I saw you?”
Then he looked at Yu Yang again.
“Kid, can you cure Storage Snake venom?”
Yu Yang looked at Xie Chi.
Xie Chi asked, “Can you?”
Yu Yang said, “I can, or I cannot.”
Xie Chi chuckled.
Sikong Shi said angrily, “You’re still laughing? I’m a young master of the Jin Prince’s Mansion, if I die…”
Xie Chi interrupted him, “The Jin Prince has seven sons. He’s an illegitimate child.”
Sikong Shi trembled with rage.
“Xie… Chi…”
Yu Yang said, “Don’t speak loudly, don’t get angry, or it might not be curable.”
Sikong Shi immediately fell silent.
Like a defeated rooster, he said, “What do you want?”
Yu Yang said, “First, shut up and don’t speak. I find you noisy.”
Sikong Shi was about to speak.
But when he met Yu Yang’s profound gaze, he immediately closed his mouth.
Yu Yang glanced at Su Yingqian, walked to Sikong Shi’s side, took out a dagger and cut Sikong Shi’s robe. Under Sikong Shi’s murderous gaze, she used the cut fabric to bind Sikong Shi’s lower leg.
She looked at Xie Chi and asked, “Senior brother, do you recognize Chongtai Root?”
Xie Chi nodded, “I do. Should I go look for it?”
Yu Yang glanced at the wound, thought for a moment, and said, “I’d better go. Senior brother, please help me treat the wound first.”
Xie Chi walked to her side and crouched down.
Yu Yang said, “Burn the bite area with fire until blisters form.”
Xie Chi took out a fire starter, “Alright.”
Yu Yang glanced at Sikong Shi, turned her back, took out a pill marked with a snake from her small medicine bottle, and handed it to Xie Chi.
“Senior brother, give him this medicine.”
Xie Chi asked, “How much does this medicine cost?”
Sikong Shi’s previously numb expression became agitated again, his face flushing red as he stared fixedly at Xie Chi.
Yu Yang pondered briefly before saying, “Whatever Senior Brother thinks is appropriate will do. I only need… fifty taels of silver.”
Sikong Shi then turned his glare toward Yu Yang.
Fifty taels???
Should they just sell him off instead?
Xie Chi laughed and remarked, “Our junior brother is truly kind-hearted.”
Sikong Shi: “???”