Night fell.
The sky was dim and dark, with bright, shimmering stars.
Yaoyao enjoyed her dinner, returned to her room to pack her things, and when the juncture of midnight, where Yin energy reigns, arrived, she pulled open the Gate of Ghosts and stepped into the Underworld.
She walked along the familiar Soul Guiding Road, the Terrace of Hopes…
The first place Yaoyao went was the City of Wrongful Deaths. She carried a jade tablet inscribed with her identity, and soon someone from within the city came to meet her.
"Subordinate Cui Xuanyin greets the Envoy of the Underworld!"
The person was a man around thirty years old, an old ghost from an ancient dynasty, adhering to old customs, with his hair tied up and crowned with a hairpin, wearing a dusty black robe. His eyes were particularly bright and sharp.
"Greetings, Lord Cui. They are all in this bottle. I trouble you to register and arrange their lodging."
Yaoyao courteously returned the bow, then handed over the jade bottle to the other party, this being the due procedure.
Nowadays, with the population skyrocketing, the pressure on the Six Paths of Reincarnation was considerable. After the living die, unless they are endowed with merits, the remaining souls have to queue for reincarnation.
Before entering the Underworld, she had already reported her arrival via the jade tablet.
This Cui Xuanyin was precisely the Chief Clerk of the City of Wrongful Deaths, responsible for recording ghosts that could not yet be reincarnated.
"Thank you for making this trip. I will certainly handle it well," Cui Xuanyin said with a smile, taking the bottle.
At the same time, he was secretly observing the little child in front of him. This was a special case, personally reported by that "adult," overcoming much dissent.
As an official of the underworld, with the blessing of the pháp ấn (seal), he could perceive spiritual manifestations. A spiritual manifestation, or soul manifestation, contained the past and future of living and deceased beings.
He felt a hint of curiosity towards this little "adult," and so, unconsciously, he used his ability.
A spiritual light flashed in his eyes, and a misty, indistinct spiritual manifestation stood behind the child in front of him.
Cui Xuanyin stared intently, then was utterly stunned, because this spiritual manifestation was completely different from anything he had ever seen before.
It was obscure like black mist; neither past nor future left any trace upon it. Rather than a manifestation, it was more like a vortex swallowing heaven and earth.
As if sensing this prying gaze, the vortex suddenly began to spin, and waves of soul-seizing power emerged.
"Not good!" Cui Xuanyin felt his soul body begin to tremble, uncontrollably drawn towards the vortex, which greatly alarmed him.
Though he was unclear of the consequences of being absorbed, this spiritual manifestation was too bizarre, and he simply did not want to uncover the truth within.
He quickly severed his spiritual eye. The backlash from interrupting the technique made his already pale face even more grim.
And as the spiritual eye was severed, the vortex-like spiritual manifestation slowly dissipated.
"Good, good, it was in time," Cui Xuanyin sighed in relief at the sight.
Immediately, his gaze towards the little child unconsciously carried fear. It seemed this new little "adult" held a great secret.
He quickly suppressed his investigative thoughts, and even his attitude unconsciously became more respectful.
"Then I'll trouble you, Lord Cui!" Yaoyao revealed a sweet smile.
With this step done, her task of delivering souls was complete. Yaoyao finished up and eagerly headed to the Little Yanjiang Underworld.
Following the path with practiced ease, Yaoyao soon reached the exterior of the Little Underworld, where a figure was already standing outside, craning his neck, his posture of eager anticipation somehow a little awkward.
This person was none other than Taoist Qinghan, who had received news in advance and come out to greet his disciple.
"Ma-ster!" Yaoyao's beautiful big eyes instantly lit up.
Her voice reached him before she did, a clear, crisp childish tone that made the deeply absorbed Qinghan feel a chill.
...
"What did you say? Fire Cloud Temple has reopened?"
Inside the hall of the Little Underworld, Qinghan was originally happily reminiscing with his disciple, but as they talked, his precious disciple suddenly brought up the matter of the temple.
"That's right!" Yaoyao was intending to deliver good news, so she immediately answered.
Upon learning that the temple gates had reopened, he rose excitedly from his seat.
He couldn't be blamed for his loss of composure; it was truly because the temple's closure had always been a bitter hurdle in his heart.
Especially after his precious disciple no longer had to worry about food and clothing, reopening the temple became his final obsession.
He had thought it would take at least a few years. Who knew his disciple was so efficient? How long had it been since he passed away? Not even half a year!
"Yaoyao… did you secretly go back to the mountain?
"You silly child!"
Qinghan came back to his senses, and the joy on his face instantly vanished.
His first thought was that his precious disciple was no longer staying at her adoptive parents' home. Otherwise, how could she have reopened the temple gates out of nowhere?
It was a great taboo, she had only just entered the Gu family. Her relationship with her parents wasn't even well-established yet. If she suddenly went back, who could guarantee what the Gu family would think?
What if they harbored resentment? His precious disciple's "meal ticket" would effectively be used up.
At that time, not only would his wish to reopen the temple not be realized, but he would also have to worry about whether his disciple could eat her fill.
"Master, you misunderstood! Don't get excited yet, just listen to me!"
Yaoyao saw the old Taoist priest's expression, as if he'd eaten a dead mouse, and knew he had misunderstood. She quickly used her small hands to pull him.
Then, under his questioning and angry gaze, she quickly explained.
After a while, Qinghan's expression became increasingly strange as he listened, until he finally couldn't hold it in anymore.
"You mean, it was your brother from the Gu family who helped you make the temple popular, and that's why you reopened the gates?"
"He even suggested using a live-streaming format to attract tourists to burn incense and make offerings? He… he's that good to you?"
After listening to his precious disciple's explanation, Qinghan felt an almost surreal lightness. According to his disciple, this brother was even more reliable than a biological one!
But she had just entered the Gu family; noble families had complex relationships. How could it be so easy to get along?
Yet, on second thought, with his precious disciple's many abilities, no matter how well the other party pretended, it would be useless, as she could see through it instantly.
So, Qinghan couldn't help but gasp, suddenly gaining a profound understanding of his disciple's charm.
"Hehe, Master, you don't know, Seventh Brother is amazing! Just wait and see our Fire Cloud Temple's incense flourish!"
Yaoyao couldn't help but boast, seeing the old Taoist priest's stunned expression.
"Good, good! This old man can finally face his ancestors now."
Qinghan clapped his hands excitedly, his wrinkled old face filled with joy. According to the description in her words, the state of their incense offerings might even surpass that of the founding patriarch.
With his disciple achieving this, how could he, as her master, not feel proud?
Perhaps it was the falling of a great burden from his heart, but Qinghan's words became more verbose, though always emphasizing the importance of treating the Gu family well.
"As cultivators, cause and effect are paramount. You received good, so you must return it. If the Gu family faces difficulties, you must not stand idly by."
Qinghan instructed earnestly.
Although he knew his disciple had cultivated to a level he himself had to look up to, and she surely understood cause and effect better than him, there were still some things he had to say.
"Mm-hmm, Master, don't worry. Yaoyao will protect Papa, Mama, and my brothers."
Yaoyao didn't find the old Taoist priest's nagging annoying. Instead, her heart felt warm, because he genuinely cared about her.
"Good, good. You are truly a sensible child now." Qinghan felt greatly consoled seeing his disciple so well-behaved and obedient.
This also relieved him of the need to nag, and the two stayed together harmoniously for a long time before Yaoyao finally left.
This time, neither of them felt reluctant; it was a happy parting.
Yaoyao followed the path to return to the mortal realm, but as she stepped onto the Bridge of No Return, she saw two figures, one black and one white, standing at the bridgehead.
Among them, the figure in white saw her, a smile appeared on his face, and he even reached out to wave at her.
Yaoyao was startled. Clearly, judging by their appearance, they seemed to be waiting for her.
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