"Eleven years and two months, plus more than half a year..."
Xu Qing once again performed the Earth letter section of Qimen Dunjia. Although the trip to Yunmeng Mountain was urgent, he would not let it delay his mourning business.
That was not an excuse for him to be lazy!
...
Mid-July, at the Shuimen Bridge Villa.
A young girl in a black dress was playing shuttlecock with a maid in a small jacket in the courtyard.
The feathers on the shuttlecock were golden, a rare item even the old antiques would struggle to find.
The two girls moved quickly, and the shuttlecock seemed like a shooting star, darting back and forth, almost impossible to catch with the eye.
Nearby, under the shade of the lush Yin Locust Tree, the ghost seamstress was dancing her water sleeves, humming a new tune to the middle-aged man under the tree.
Xu Qing lay relaxed in a rattan chair, briefly enjoying the leisure before him.
Today is suitable for marriage and visiting friends; avoid burial and inhumation.
In these times, people would choose an auspicious date for major events and act according to the almanac.
Days like today, where burial and breaking ground are frowned upon, are the most leisurely times for mourning businesses.
However, just as Xu Qing was enjoying a brief moment of leisure, he suddenly sensed a guest had arrived at the Funeral Shop.
The main hall of Cat Immortal Hall was set up at the Funeral Shop, enveloped by the Dharma Realm of the Immortal Hall. Anyone entering the Immortal Hall's range would be sensed by Xu Qing, the Sect Leader.
"Tsk, on such a joyous day, why not enjoy a feast or visit friends? Why come to my shop?"
Xu Qing had no choice; one can't ignore business when customers arrive.
A zombie and a cat had long formed a mutual understanding. After sensing something was amiss at the Funeral Shop, Xuan Yu, who had been playing with Shiyue, followed him back to Underground Street.
At that moment, quite a few people had gathered in front of the usually deserted Funeral Shop.
Xu Qing glanced over and saw not only a middle-ranking officer with peacock-embroidered clothes leading but also a captain with brocade chicken-embroidered clothes. Behind them were about two hundred embroidered messengers.
This formation surpassed even that of Wang Liang.
Perhaps word had gotten out about Xu Qing's previous complaints about the Jinyi Guards affecting his business. This time they chose a day that wouldn't hinder the Funeral Shop's business to visit.
Xu Qing, accompanied by a black cat, leisurely approached the crowd.
This time, not only did none of the Jinyi Guards stop him, but they even made way, standing on both sides in a welcoming manner.
Xu Qing raised an eyebrow, passed through the crowd, and saw in front of the Paper Mache Shop, Li Tie Zhu was conversing with two distinguished-looking men in brocade robes.
One of them had a clean and bright demeanor, his face weathered from years of hard work, appearing somewhat tired, but his eyes were exceptionally bright, seemingly able to see through hearts.
The other had a short beard, looking quite similar to the first, yet more stately, with an air of authority even when standing silent. He truly was a presence like an immovable mountain.
Although Xu Qing already knew their identities, he still felt a bit moved upon meeting them.
"Brother Xu!"
Seeing Xu Qing, Wu Zhiyuan and Wu Wencai's eyes lit up, and they hurriedly stepped forward to salute him.
Xu Qing smiled slightly, saluting back, saying, "I don't dare. You two are now pillars of the great land of Dayan. How can a mere impoverished scholar like me address you as brothers?"
Hearing this, Wu Zhiyuan's face flushed with embarrassment, and he quickly said:
"Brother of kindness, your words are deeply hurtful! If not for your help, my brother and I would have long been corpses at the bottom of the river. How could we see today's prosperity? Brother Xu, please don't mention this talk of rank and status again. We have always considered you a brother!"
Wu Wencai also blushed and said, "Elder brother is right. Do not speak such words from now on, or we will truly feel too ashamed to face anyone, even to hold these positions!"
Seeing the two like this, Xu Qing felt a sense of satisfaction within.
It's common in the world to forget poverty in wealth and forsake old friendships with newfound power.
Yet the Wu brothers before him, though high in the court and well-rewarded, remained as courteous as ever, which was truly commendable.
Bringing the two into the Paper Mache Shop, Wu Zhiyuan looked at the familiar scenery inside, unchanged even after one or two decades.
"Our brothers have experienced countless ups and downs these years..."
The brothers were moved by their surroundings, feeling the need to express what they hadn't been able to share before. Upon seeing Xu Qing, they poured their hearts out quickly.
"When I was serving as the County Magistrate in Danchi County, Your Majesty once sent me a letter, wanting me to abandon my post and go to the North Border to assist..."
Wu Wencai laughed, "Your Majesty wrote in the letter that brother and Brother Xu had already gone to the North Border. I believed it without a doubt. However, at that time, my mind was on the people of my administrative area, and I couldn't go."
Wu Zhiyuan beside him chuckled and shook his head: "This was indeed Your Majesty's intention. I remember Wencai only learned when he returned to the capital to report his duties and met me that Your Majesty had written in my letter, claiming he and Brother Xu had gone to the North Border..."
"..."
Xu Qing squinted his eyes and spoke softly, "I also received a letter from him, which stated that both of you had been recruited under his command, urging me to go and join the grand plan."
"..."
"Is that so?"
The Wu brothers exchanged puzzled glances but soon were at ease, knowing this was indeed something Your Majesty would do.
As they chatted, Wu Zhiyuan, who had once given Xuan Yu the title of 'Lady Qingqing,' suddenly looked at the black cat beside Xu Qing.
"Could this cat be Lady Qingqing from twenty years ago? If so, this cat deserves the title of the God of Longevity."
Xu Qing smiled slightly and casually said, "This cat is a descendant of Lady Qingqing, already a generation removed!"