That humble, courteous, and gentle demeanor remained just as it was in his youth.
Yu Yang replied, “I’m fine now. I’ve embarrassed myself in front of the Shizi.”
Xie Chi shook his head slightly and invited her to sit down nearby.
“When I was in the capital, I received several letters from Uncle Yu. In them, he mentioned that your health was gradually improving, and not long ago, he even brought up arranging a marriage prospect for you. How could this…”
When Yu Yang’s uncle served as a shadow guard in the prince’s residence, he had a good relationship with Xie Chi, taught him martial arts, and secretly brought him food when Xie Chi was being punished.
Because of this connection, Xie Chi treated Yu Yang like his own younger sister.
Yu Yang wanted to force a polite smile, but the corners of her lips twitched without forming one. In the end, she only pressed her lips together and said, “Who knows? I thought I would live to a hundred, but it seems Heaven suddenly decided I shouldn’t live anymore.”
Yu Yang hadn’t transmigrated directly into the Yu family as the young lady.
When she first transmigrated, her uncle was working as a shadow guard in the capital.
The original host’s family ran an Apothecary Workshop and fell victim to a revenge killing.
The six-year-old original host was sold by the enemies to Medicine Valley to become a poison tester.
The original host died from the poison after drinking the first bowl.
Thus, the fourteen-year-old her became the six-year-old Yu Yang.
She stayed in Medicine Valley for nearly four years. As for why she managed to survive four years without being poisoned or tortured to death, it remained a mystery to her as well.
It wasn’t until her uncle used his connections from the prince’s residence to find her.
Her uncle avenged her and “resigned” from his position by the prince’s side, coming to Nanpu to establish the Yu family and raise her.
But when she first arrived at the Yu family, she was like a little poison vessel. Many physicians told her uncle to prepare a coffin for her. She herself was in agony and on the verge of collapse. Later, like an old dog, she wanted to escape the Yu family and find a place to wait for death alone.
It was then that the young Xie Chi, not wanting his Uncle Yu to lose his last remaining relative, brought Divine Doctor Ji to the Yu family.
Yu Yang said, “Divine Doctor Ji’s medical skills are exceptional. The poison in my body was clearly cleansed, but half a month ago, I suddenly fainted.”
“Divine Doctor Ji took my pulse for several days but couldn’t determine the cause. In the end, he could only regretfully say that my vitality was exhausted.”
“He said I’m about to die, and that he, in his old age, is powerless to help.”
Yu Yang pressed her lips together and said, “Perhaps my fate has reached its end.”
Her tone carried clear reluctance.
Upon hearing this, Xie Chi remained silent for a while.
He asked, “What about the Life-Extending Pill? If more are made, could they prolong your life?”
Yu Yang knew Xie Chi was referring to the medicine she had taken during her recent episode.
“The duration the Life-Extending Pill can prolong life will shorten, and the medicine is becoming less effective for me. I have six pills left; making more is pointless.”
She said, “I’ve failed to live up to the Shizi’s life-saving grace.”
Xie Chi lowered his gaze, as if sighing softly.
“You haven’t failed me. I imagine you’ve endured much suffering over the years. The capital has many skilled individuals; I’ll write letters to inquire if any can cure you.”
Yu Yang didn’t refuse, perhaps still clinging to a sliver of hope.
After a while, Xie Chi asked, “Does Uncle Yu know about your condition?”
Yu Yang shook her head.
“Please don’t tell my uncle. The feeling of waiting for death is unbearable; I don’t want him to wait with me. He only managed to be with the one he loves in his forties, and he’s happy now. Let him be happy for as long as he can, even if it’s just one more day.”
Xie Chi fell silent.
In truth, he and Yu Yang weren’t very familiar; they had only interacted for a few days when he helped back then.
Thus, at this moment, he didn’t know how to comfort Yu Yang.
He said, “If there’s anything I can assist with, just say the word.”
Yu Yang smiled faintly and said, “Thank you, Shizi.”
The two fell into silence for a while.
Yu Yang broke the quiet by asking, “Shizi, is there a particular reason for your visit to the Yu family?”
Xie Chi replied, “I have received an Imperial Order to handle affairs in the southwest, so I took the opportunity to stop by Nanpu County and deliver wedding gifts to Uncle Yu.”
At the mention of official business, Yu Yang immediately thought of the “Talent Recruitment Board” matter.
She asked directly, “Is it related to the Celestial Child? The matter of the Celestial Child has been causing quite a stir these past couple of days.”
Xie Chi didn’t conceal much.
“Yes, the Emperor has established the Four Celestial Guards, ordering them to search for Celestial Children throughout the realm. I was appointed as the Celestial Guard North Unit Commander, responsible for the southwestern region.”
Yu Yang was surprised.
The Emperor had even formed a team to search for transmigrators.
This indicated that transmigrators had suddenly increased in number.
Had some anomaly occurred in this world?
She asked, “How does Shizi plan to find these Celestial Children? The Yu family has some influence here in the southwest and could assist in the search.”
Xie Chi said, “According to the National Preceptor, only those with exceptional fate destinies can encounter Celestial Children among the millions of common people. Therefore, the Celestial Guards will disperse to various commanderies and counties to search for such individuals.”
Yu Yang was puzzled.
“Exceptional fate destinies?”
Xie Chi didn’t seem very clear about this either.
He said, “The members of the Celestial Guards either come from powerful families of the current dynasty or are imperial relatives.”
Many scions of noble families in the capital who usually held idle positions had now joined the Celestial Guards.
Yu Yang became thoughtful.
Come to think of it, the people for whom she could see Good and Bad Omens all seemed to come from prominent backgrounds.
Could it be that the people for whom she could see Good and Bad Omens were those with exceptional fate destinies who were more likely to encounter transmigrators?
Since they weren’t very familiar with each other, they made awkward small talk like in an arranged meeting until it grew dark.
Xie Chi had originally planned to leave the Yu residence after delivering the gifts.
But because of Yu Yang’s episode, he was delayed until evening.
Thus, he decided to depart from the Yu family early the next morning.
Night fell.
All was quiet and still.
Yu Yang had been sleeping soundly.
Then something inexplicable happened.
A yellow paper flickered in her dream and transformed into a door.
Her hand, as if not her own, mischievously pushed the door open.
Then she dreamed she was standing in a small room.
Moonlight streamed into the room, and she saw she was standing on a strange Eight Trigram formation.
Many prayer flags were planted around the formation.
A Taoist robe hung in the corner of the room.
A statue resembling the Vermilion Bird was enshrined ahead, with incense burned halfway on the table.
The entire room’s arrangement made her feel as if she…
was a ghost summoned by some Taoist priest.
With a single thought, she passed through the door and floated out of the room.
Yu Yang: “…”
One shouldn’t speak carelessly – now she had truly experienced soul departure.
Sounds suddenly came from ahead.
“National Preceptor, this ghost was delivered by the Celestial Guard North Unit and is entrusted to your disposal. His Majesty says that all ghosts captured by the North Unit will be sent to Changsheng Temple going forward. He hopes you can fulfill his wish – either find the method of immortality or discover defensive arrays against enemies.”
Yu Yang’s gaze trembled slightly.
Changsheng Temple?
Changsheng Temple was in the capital, thousands of miles away from Nanpu.
How did she get here?
She heard an old man respond, “North Unit?”
“Yes. The Celestial Guards have been divided into four units. His Majesty says one shouldn’t put all eggs in one basket. Although he seeks immortal methods, he also cares about the state and society. Therefore, only ghosts obtained by the North Unit will be sent for your use.”
The old man remained silent for a moment before saying, “Very well. Then, might I ask about Shizi Xie…”
“As you requested, Xie Shizi now commands the Northern Division of the Celestial Guard. The Shizi departed the capital a month ago and should already be in the southwest by now.”
“That is well then.”
…
Silence fell in the front hall.
Yu Yang quietly drifted into the dimly lit main hall.
She floated behind the statues of the Three Pure Ones on the altar table.
Looking down from her vantage point, she observed the scene unfolding in the hall.
She saw an elderly man in a yellow Daoist robe, possessing an immortal-like grace, speak: “All of you may withdraw. I shall perform the ritual on this ghost alone.”
Two guards exited the main hall and closed the doors behind them.
In an instant.
The hall contained only the old man.
And a bound sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl on the floor, staring at the old man in panic.