Ch 192: Is There Really Such a Good Thing? [QT]

Shen Yunxuan quickly ran over and picked up the small gray burlap pouch from the ground. Upon closer inspection, she noticed faint dark patterns on it, resembling a mysterious formation. Using her spiritual power to probe it, she confirmed that it was indeed a storage item.

She happily expressed her gratitude, “Thank you! If not for you, I would have missed out on this great treasure!”

The mother ghost looked a bit embarrassed. “As long as I can be of help to the master, that’s good.”

Qin Wenshu excitedly urged, “Master, quickly open it and see what’s inside!”

Everyone was curious and gathered around Shen Yunxuan. She erased the previous owner’s imprint with her spiritual power, forced out a drop of her own blood to bind the storage pouch to herself, and soon sensed the contents inside. She directly poured everything onto the grass.

A miscellaneous pile of items spilled out, but the most important ones included a Taoist master’s cultivation manual, a complete collection of talismans, a secret book on formations, a compendium of supernatural creatures, a demon core, a cultivation manual for ghost cultivators, and several rare herbs.

It seemed that a Taoist master had once perished, and the fierce ghost had picked up this storage pouch, adding a few of his own belongings inside.

Shen Yunxuan carefully stored away the pouch, feeling exhilarated. This was quite a rewarding haul!

Was this her reward for upholding justice? With that thought, she turned toward the little ghost that had nearly been devoured by the fierce ghost earlier. He appeared to be a six or seven-year-old boy, but his expression remained blank and dazed, completely unresponsive to the battle or their victory.

Madam Li frowned with concern. “Could he be a foolish ghost? I tried talking to him, but he didn’t respond at all.”

Wang Shi also looked puzzled. “I’ve seen many ghosts, but I’ve never encountered one like this. Normally, when people with mental disabilities die, their souls immediately go to the underworld.”

The Mother Ghost circled around the little ghost in confusion. “Something about him feels different.”

Shen Yunxuan explained, “That’s because, strictly speaking, he isn’t actually a ghost—he’s a living soul.”

“A living soul?” Gao Lang examined the slightly pale but not terrifying face of the child, moving closer and waving a hand in front of him. “Captain Shen! What does that mean? Did his soul leave his body? Can he go back? Can he still be saved?”

Shen Yunxuan calculated for a moment and frowned. “He was harmed by someone—a Taoist master, to be precise.”

“What?” Everyone was stunned. A child, still alive, had been harmed by a Taoist master? But then Gao Lang and the others quickly understood. They had encountered traitors before. This Taoist master must have been a corrupted one—evil even among their own kind.

Shen Yunxuan took the little ghost’s hand and said, “That fierce ghost was being raised by this Taoist master. He was involved in all sorts of dark dealings, including backhouse struggles and harming children. He helped one side by killing their opponents’ children and then fed the souls to his fierce ghost, making it stronger. Once the ghost grew powerful enough, he used it to carry out his misdeeds.

“But since I eliminated the fierce ghost, that master will surely suffer backlash. This child is safe now. I’ll send him back in a while.”

What started as a simple trip to the graveyard to retrieve an item unexpectedly led to the eradication of a fierce ghost and the disruption of a corrupt Taoist master’s schemes. This was definitely going to turn into a grudge. No one knew the extent of the opponent’s abilities, and if he came seeking revenge, it was uncertain whether Shen Yunxuan could withstand it or even make it through the day.

The group exchanged worried glances, while Shen Yunxuan also pondered the matter.

She went to the graveyard where the Mother Ghost had mentioned the buried treasures. They were indeed the burial items of two old ghosts, but rather than being placed inside the coffins, they were buried deep in the ground in front of the graves, protected by a restriction that prevented ghosts from touching them.

Under normal circumstances, a Taoist master wouldn’t dig up someone’s grave either, so these items had remained undiscovered for a long time.

The special forces team carefully dug up the items and restored the gravesite to its original state. Shen Yunxuan then burned incense and respectfully bowed before finally inspecting the items.

One was a palm-sized Qiankun Mirror, an octagonal mirror resembling a copper mirror but actually a demon-revealing artifact. Any demon, ghost, or supernatural being reflected in the Qiankun Mirror would appear in its most original, terrifying state.

When Qin Wenshu and the others looked into the mirror, they saw their most horrifying forms from the moment of their deaths.

The Qiankun Mirror also contained a righteous energy—when exposed to its reflection, supernatural beings would feel an overwhelming discomfort, as if they were being enveloped by some force that slowed their movements and weakened their strength, making it difficult to get close.

During battles with supernatural beings, taking out the Qiankun Mirror would slow the opponent’s actions, giving an instant advantage to swiftly eliminate them. If the mirror was hung at the entrance of a residence, it could also ward off spirits and ensure the household’s safety.

It might have other uses, but she would need more time to study it.

The second item was a Tianji Fan, which could be used both as a weapon and as a tool for divination. These two artifacts were of far higher grade than any of Shen Yunxuan’s current weapons, indicating that the two deceased ghosts had once held significant status. Unfortunately, they had already gone to the underworld—otherwise, she could have learned much from them.

Just as Shen Yunxuan was about to leave with her finds, a ghost blocked her path. The ghost hesitantly stepped forward and pleaded with tearful eyes, “Master, I previously registered at the General’s Manor. My reward is buried in an unmarked grave to the west—not far from here. I knew you would be coming this way, so I came ahead of time to wait.

Please, master, since you’re already here, could you retrieve my offering as well? I don’t need revenge or bloodshed—there’s no danger involved. I just need your help to prove my master’s innocence.”

Shen Yunxuan remembered this loyal maidservant ghost. Proving someone’s innocence—especially in the tangled web of deep household conflicts—was far more difficult than seeking revenge. She doubted she could resolve such a matter in the remaining half-day, so she hadn’t initially agreed.

But now…

She looked at the maidservant ghost and then at the little ghost beside her.

The maidservant ghost had been paying close attention to her and, following her gaze, instantly gasped in horror. “Young Master? Young Master, how did you die? Were you also harmed by Madam Feng?”

Noticing something was wrong with the little ghost, she quickly grabbed his hand. “Young Master! Young Master, what’s wrong with you?”

Shen Yunxuan briefly explained the situation. “I can’t guarantee that I can prove your master’s innocence, but I am about to take your young master back to restore his soul.”

The maidservant ghost knelt down excitedly. “Thank you, Master! Thank you, Master! Even if you can’t prove anything, it doesn’t matter. I know you’re very busy. Just saving the young master is already a great kindness. That chest of treasure is my gratitude for saving our young master. I’ll take you to it right away.”

Shen Yunxuan did not refuse. The unmarked grave was indeed not far, and the special forces team quickly unearthed the chest. The chest was very old, appearing to have been buried for over a hundred years. Inside, it contained numerous antique jewels. As she examined them, Shen Yunxuan realized that these materials were perfect for crafting magical artifacts, similar to the ones she had collected from Wang Shi’s house. However, these had not yet been refined.

Additionally, there were two books inside. One was a manual on crafting magical artifacts, and the other was a Taoist master’s personal notes—just like the ones she had obtained from the General’s Manor. It contained extensive experience from an elder Taoist master, proving to be highly valuable. Moreover, this master specialized in using magical artifacts against demons, ghosts, and monsters, making it a unique skillset.

Most importantly, with this treasure trove, Shen Yunxuan could now craft many magical artifacts herself!

Luckily, she didn’t miss out on this opportunity. Perhaps encountering the little ghost and saving him was also part of her destined fortune.

She stored the chest in her storage pouch and then brought the maidservant ghost and the little ghost back to their household in the city.

Standing before the mansion’s entrance, Shen Yunxuan made a quick divination and confirmed that the evil Taoist master was not inside. She then knocked on the door. The ghosts did not reveal themselves, so the doorman only saw Shen Yunxuan and the six special forces soldiers. He hesitated and asked, “Miss, who might you be?”

Shen Yunxuan replied, “I have foreseen that there is an evildoer in your household who has harmed the young master. I have come to save him. I know a way to bring him back. Quickly, report this to your master.”

The doorman had initially wanted to ask more questions, but seeing her serious demeanor and the intimidating presence of the men behind her, he hurriedly ran inside to report to the master of the house.

At that moment, the master was already distressed over his son’s coma. His second wife, Madam Feng, gently comforted him, saying, “Master, the heavens protect the kind. No matter what happened with Elder Sister, Lin’er is innocent. He will surely be safe.”

Hearing her mention his first wife, the master slammed his teacup on the table in frustration. “That vile woman Chen Shi! She has tried to harm you so many times, even using her own son to vie for favor, causing Lin’er to fall into a coma. She is unworthy of being a wife! If anything happens to Lin’er, I will definitely divorce her!”

Madam Feng’s eyes flickered as she sighed softly. “I shouldn’t have followed you back to the capital. In the past, you and Elder Sister shared deep affection, and since you never took concubines, it’s only natural that she couldn’t tolerate my presence. It was I who disrupted your relationship.”

Tears welled in Madam Feng’s eyes as she played the pitiful role. The master quickly comforted her. “How can this be your fault? Back then, I was ambushed by bandits, fell into the river, and lost my memory. It was you who saved me and cared for me, allowing me to survive.

“At that time, I had no memory, and our feelings grew naturally. We held a wedding ceremony—you are my rightful wife. Now that I have regained my memory and returned to the capital, you were demoted from first wife to secondary wife. That is my fault, not yours. It’s just fate playing tricks on us.

“I once felt guilty towards Chen Shi, but who knew she would be such a jealous woman, caring only about fighting for favor and completely disregarding your kindness in saving me? Using such sinister means against you… Sigh, I truly misjudged her. Now, I can only hope that her wicked deeds do not bring misfortune upon Lin’er. He is innocent.”

It was at this moment that the doorman rushed in. “Master, Second Madam!”

Madam Feng’s eyes flashed with displeasure upon hearing “Second Madam,” but she quickly lowered her gaze to conceal her emotions. She frowned and said, “The master is already troubled. How can you barge in so loudly? Is this how you usually handle matters?”

Hearing her words, the master grew even more frustrated with Chen Shi. “It seems she can’t even manage the household properly, allowing the servants to become so unruly!”

The doorman panicked and immediately knelt. “Master, Second Madam, please forgive me. A Taoist master has arrived at the gate, saying that someone in the household has harmed the young master. She claims to have a way to awaken him. I dared not delay, so I rushed to report this. Please forgive my rudeness.”

“What? An evildoer?” The master immediately stood up. “Quickly! Bring them in—no, take them directly to my son’s chamber!”

Madam Feng’s eyelids twitched as an ominous feeling crept over her. “Master, we don’t even know who this person is. Wouldn’t it be risky to let a stranger see Lin’er so suddenly? What if she harms him instead?”

The master waved his hand dismissively. “Several doctors have already said that Lin’er cannot be saved. The Taoist master I invited this morning also claimed that Lin’er’s lifespan had reached its end. Now, we can only grasp at any hope. I can’t afford to be cautious anymore. If you are worried, you can return to your room. I will tell you the results afterward.”

Madam Feng’s plan had encountered an unexpected obstacle—how could she dare not be present? She needed to see what kind of Taoist master had arrived.

“Master, I care for Lin’er as if he were my own son. How can I feel at ease without witnessing this myself? I will go with you.”

The master patted her hand, moved by her words. “You are truly kind and understanding. If Lin’er survives this ordeal, I will transfer him to your name so that you may raise him as your own.”

“Thank you, Master,” Madam Feng said with a look of emotion on her face, though inside, she was utterly indifferent. She was perfectly capable of bearing children—why should she raise someone else’s son? Once she eliminated Chen Shi and her son, she would be the true mistress of this house, and her future son would be the rightful heir.

Shen Yunxuan led her team into the young master’s room, while the ghosts dispersed to investigate the mansion. As usual, they aimed to scan any books they could find while also locating Chen Shi to see where she was being held.

The master of the house frowned in displeasure when he saw them, noticing that they were all young, with Shen Yunxuan being just a young girl. “Are you here to cause trouble?”

Shen Yunxuan glanced at the unconscious child on the bed and said, “Your household was once harmonious, your business thriving. Now your family is broken apart. Have you never wondered why?”

Her words were harsh, making the master’s eyebrows shoot up. Beside him, Madam Feng turned pale and staggered as if she were about to collapse. “Miss, are you someone sent by my elder sister? Are you saying that I am an intruder, disturbing my husband’s family? Are you trying to drive me to my death?”

The master quickly pulled her into his arms and said angrily, “My household was fine, my wife was fine—where is this ‘family broken apart’ nonsense coming from? Utter drivel! Guards, throw this liar out! This is no Taoist master—she’s clearly been bribed by Chen Shi to slander us!”

Shen Yunxuan shook her head and sighed. “It seems that to you, as long as there is a woman to be your wife, and you can have more children, it doesn’t matter. The warm and loving home you once had is gone, and you don’t even care.”

The master was momentarily stunned, wanting to argue back, but he realized deep down that she was right. He had once thought he deeply loved his wife and cherished his son. But these past months, disturbed by the turmoil in the household, he had often felt that if Chen Shi and her son were simply gone, things would be peaceful again.

This thought filled him with shame. And now, having it spoken aloud by a young girl, he became even more furious. “Chen Shi brought this upon herself! She harmed Lin’er—she’s the true culprit behind all this!”

As he spoke, Shen Yunxuan had already walked up to the bedside. With a firm push, she guided the young ghost’s soul back into the boy’s body and hung a folded soul-stabilizing talisman around the child’s neck. Slowly, the unconscious child opened his eyes.

The master was so shocked he forgot to speak. He stared in disbelief until his son sat up, at which point he snapped back to reality and rushed forward to support him. “Lin’er! You’re awake?! How do you feel? Is there any discomfort?”

Lin’er looked at his father, then pushed his hands away, stepping down from the bed and bowing deeply to Shen Yunxuan. “Thank you, Master, for saving me.”

The master, having been pushed aside, frowned in displeasure. “Lin’er, what is this attitude?”

Lin’er looked at him coldly. “Though I was unconscious, I could hear everything you all said.”

His words made the master’s expression flicker with unease. This morning, when they had found Lin’er in a coma, he had anxiously kept watch by his bedside. Madam Feng had been by his side, comforting him. Their marriage was still fresh, and in the midst of their heartfelt conversation, some affectionate words had naturally been exchanged. He hadn’t realized that his son had heard every word.

Madam Feng, on the other hand, was outright panicking. She had whispered many things into Lin’er’s ear, fully believing that he was as good as dead. She had never expected him to wake up.

Lin’er pointed directly at her. “Second Mother whispered to me, saying: ‘Little bastard, just go in peace and make way for my son. I’ll burn you extra paper money to thank you.’”

“‘Don’t worry, soon I’ll send your mother to join you. Oh wait, that’s wrong—once you die, you’ll be eaten up and won’t even make it to the underworld.’”

“‘Don’t hate me. It’s not my fault—you and your mother were in my way. The master already told me that I was born for wealth and prosperity. This household should rightfully be mine.’”

“Shut up! Shut up!” Madam Feng screamed in panic, clutching her chest as if deeply wounded. “Lin’er, how could you slander me like this? Who told you to say such things? Was it your mother?”

She turned tearfully toward Shen Yunxuan. “No wonder no one else could wake Lin’er, but the moment you arrive, he wakes up and accuses me! Isn’t this all just an act set up by my elder sister?”

Lin’er turned to his father. “Where is my mother? I want to see her. What have you done to her?”

The master was deeply displeased by his son’s sharp tone. He felt that his authority as a father was being challenged and scolded, “What kind of attitude is this? Is this what your mother taught you?”

Dong Yue rolled her eyes. “Oh, so now you’re the one to teach him? You keep blaming others for everything—what a skill you have! The child nearly died and just wants to see his mother. What’s wrong with that? Unless… you did something to her? The law still exists, you know. You and your concubine are standing here unharmed, which means his mother didn’t try to kill you. No matter what, you can’t just kill her off in secret.”

She narrowed her eyes. “What? You won’t even let him see her one last time? Planning to lock her up and torment her to death?”

The master was livid. “How dare you—”

Gao Lang interrupted him impatiently. “Same old lines, over and over again. Can’t you say anything new? No wonder you got played like a fool by this green tea witch—so much that you even abandoned your wife and child. I heard you lost your memory and she saved you? And now your wife has to treat her like some kind of divine benefactor?”

The master roared in anger, “Saved me? What do you know? I—”

“We know, we know, of course we know—that’s exactly why we’re here,” Gao Lang said. “So, you lost your memory, she took care of you, and you thought she was the purest, kindest, most selfless woman in the world and married her. Then, when you regained your memory, you brought her back as your secondary wife, convinced that she was not after wealth or status and had truly loved you, even when you were penniless.”

Dong Yue added, “But did you ever stop to think about it? When you fell into the river, you were wearing luxurious silk robes, carrying a jade pendant, and had gold in your pouch—clearly, you were a wealthy man. If not, would she have randomly picked up just anyone and married them? What if you had been a bandit? A criminal? She clearly had no prospects in the village and saw an opportunity to use your status to elevate herself.”

Gao Lang continued, “You don’t believe it? Then tell me—why would an unmarried, ‘pure’ young woman personally clean and feed a strange man, even tending to his bodily needs? If she really wanted to help, why not tell the villagers? There were plenty of men in the village—could none of them take care of you? No, she hid you away so that she alone could be your savior, ensuring that you owed her.”

“And you’re not young anymore. By the time a man reaches your age, he should already be married. Didn’t she ever worry about that? Did she never consider that you might have a wife and children waiting for you?”

Madam Feng was both terrified and furious. “Enough! Stop talking! You’re making things up! This is nothing but slander—you must have been sent by my elder sister to destroy me!”

The master looked at her, his heart beginning to waver. Though he still wanted to defend her, doubt had already taken root. “She doesn’t have such deep schemes… she’s just kindhearted…”

“Right, right,” Dong Yue sneered. “Then you’d better watch out for your head turning green. After all, if she can’t resist rescuing strangers, disregarding social propriety, then in the decades to come, she’ll surely encounter three or five more unfortunate men. Your ‘kindhearted’ secondary wife will no doubt secretly hide them in her home, personally tending to their needs, making sure no one else finds out. Tsk, tsk.”

The words were too cutting. Madam Feng’s face alternated between pale and flushed, but the master—and the surrounding servants—were suddenly struck with realization. If any young woman saw someone drowning in the river, wouldn’t she shout for help? Wouldn’t she call for others? Instead, she had taken a full-grown man back to her house, undressed him, wiped his body clean, and nursed him in secret. What exactly was she trying to hide?

Even if it had been love at first sight, it was still too extreme. No respectable young woman would throw herself at a man like that, skipping the traditional marriage process. They had never thought much of it before, but now that it was being laid bare, the logic no longer made sense. If he had been the one to see a drowning woman, would he have hidden her away and nursed her in his own room? Of course not—he would have taken her to a doctor.

And if Madam Feng was truly so compassionate, would she continue to help others? Here in the mansion, she might not have many chances to encounter desperate people, but what about before? Before him—had she saved others? Had she undressed and nursed other men?

Madam Feng’s face went deathly pale. At first, she had thought that even if they accused her, she could still feign innocence, turning the situation to her advantage and deepening her bond with the master. But they had gone completely off-script—bringing up the circumstances of her ‘rescue’ instead. And she had no way to explain it.

If she claimed she was simply kindhearted and that he was the only person she had ever helped in this way, then that meant if any man had washed up at her feet, she would have done the same. That meant her ‘love’ for the master wasn’t special at all. If she denied it and said she had never saved anyone else, would he believe her? Or would he start to wonder if she had taken care of many other men before?

Madam Feng felt as if the sky had collapsed. Who were these people? How were they so sharp?

Shen Yunxuan hadn’t even needed to intervene—her left and right protectors had completely backed Madam Feng into a corner. In an era of information overload, people simply knew too much. A few sentences had been enough to tear the facade apart.

Meanwhile, the ghostly maid had already found Chen Shi in the firewood storage room. With the talisman Shen Yunxuan had given her, she was finally able to appear before humans. Seeing Chen Shi looking frail and broken, she immediately rushed forward, crying, “Mistress! Mistress, are you alright? How could they do this to you? They’re worse than animals—I’ll kill them!”

The maid turned to leave, but Chen Shi grabbed her arm, struggling to sit up. She looked at her in disbelief. “Cui Tao? Is it really you? How are you here? You… aren’t you…”

Cui Tao quickly helped her sit properly. “Mistress, I was murdered by that wretched Madam Feng. After I died, I became a ghost, unable to pass into the underworld because of my unresolved grievances. But I was too weak, and other ghosts bullied me. I barely escaped to the outskirts and found a few kind spirits who protected me.

I wanted to help you, but I couldn’t even reveal myself, and the ghosts who helped me were also pitiful souls, unable to do much. Until today—when a powerful Taoist master arrived in the capital. She agreed to help us seek justice, and I begged her to save you.

Oh, and Young Master should have woken up by now! The master saved him from being devoured by a malicious ghost. She brought him back to restore his soul! She also helped me take form—I can finally help you now! Mistress, let’s get out of here!”

Cui Tao, being a ghost, easily took Chen Shi with her, smashing open the door and carrying Chen Shi toward the young master’s room. She said apologetically, “Mistress, it’s my fault. I couldn’t prove your innocence. The master only has time today, and she still has to help other ghosts seek revenge. She can’t help with this matter…”

Chen Shi quickly shook her head. “Right now, I only want my son to be safe. Nothing else matters. Whether I’m innocent or not, whether my husband believes me or not—I no longer care.”

Cui Tao was stunned. “Then, Mistress, how will you and Young Master live in this household from now on?”

By this time, they had already reached the room and saw that Lin’er was awake inside. Chen Shi suddenly grabbed Cui Tao’s hand, took a deep breath, and said, “Cui Tao, let’s not go in yet. I am going to the yamen to file a lawsuit against them. You take a message to the Chen family and tell them… tell them I know I was wrong.”

From a distance, Chen Shi looked at Lin’er with tears streaming down her face, but her expression was resolute. She had Cui Tao take her out of the mansion immediately, appearing in a disheveled state as she beat the drum at the yamen, crying out for justice. Meanwhile, Cui Tao took the written letter and rushed to the Chen family, passing through walls straight into Old Madam Chen’s room, handing the letter to her directly.

“Old Madam, please save Mistress! She and the Young Master are being tormented to death by the Master and the Second Madam!”

Old Madam Chen’s face changed drastically. “What did you say? What happened?”

Cui Tao quickly recounted everything that had happened in recent days. Old Madam Chen had already opened the letter and, upon reading it, immediately ran barefoot out of her room, shouting orders as she went. “Call for the Master! Prepare the carriage! Bring two physicians with us—hurry, hurry!”

Seeing that they were willing to rescue her mistress, Cui Tao sighed in relief and disappeared. Only then did Old Madam Chen and the servants remember how strangely Cui Tao had appeared. Their faces turned pale—was she a ghost? But even in death, she remained a loyal servant. Instead of fear, they were deeply moved.

As Old Madam Chen walked out, she continued giving instructions. “Look into whether Cui Tao still has any living family and take good care of them. Prepare a proper grave for her, and make offerings at the temple to help her soul pass on.”

Old Master Chen and Old Madam Chen naturally went to the yamen to see their daughter, while Chen Shi’s two older brothers stormed into the household, taking Lin’er away.

The Master was shocked to see them. Years ago, when he was a poor scholar, the Chen family had refused to let Chen Shi marry him. He and Chen Shi had knelt outside their home for an entire day before they reluctantly agreed, but they also declared that they would no longer acknowledge Chen Shi as their daughter.

For the past ten years, there had been no contact between them. He knew Chen Shi often wept in secret, missing her family, but he had always harbored resentment toward them and refused to lower his head. As a businessman, he had since become successful and had always thought that they should be the ones to recognize their mistake in underestimating him.

Why had the Chen family suddenly appeared now?

He stepped forward to block Lin’er. “Brother-in-laws, what are you doing?”

The two brothers glanced at him, then at Madam Feng, before one of them suddenly punched the Master right in the eye. He cried out in pain, stumbling back with his eye swelling shut.

Only then did the two brothers speak. “What are we doing? Our sister is divorcing you, and we’re here to take back our Chen family’s bloodline. Lin’er, come with your uncles. We’ll take you to see your mother.”

Lin’er recognized them. Though he had never met them before, his mother had shown him portraits of each member of the Chen family and often spoke of them, so he did not feel like they were strangers. Instead, he felt a natural closeness to them.

But since he had never met them in person, he instinctively looked toward Shen Yunxuan. She was the one who had saved him, and right now, she was the only person he truly trusted.

Shen Yunxuan had already observed the faces of the two Chen brothers and found them to be good people. She crouched down and smiled at Lin’er. “Go with your uncles. After surviving such a great calamity, you are destined for a life of happiness. Your hardships are over—peace and joy await you.”

Lin’er shyly smiled. “Thank you, Sister. I will always remember your kindness. When I grow up, I will find you and repay you.”

Shen Yunxuan patted his head. “Alright, I’ll be waiting.”

The Chen brothers knew that Shen Yunxuan was the one who had saved their sister and nephew. They quickly stepped forward to thank her and even invited her to come with them.

Shen Yunxuan shook her head. “I have urgent matters to attend to, so I won’t be joining you.” She took out an item from her storage pouch—a relic from the malicious ghost—and handed it to them. “This was taken from the ghost. Find a skilled Taoist master, and they should be able to trace who was controlling it. From what I can tell, it was likely Madam Feng who hired a corrupt Taoist to harm others, but you’ll need proof. Investigate it yourselves.”

The brothers respectfully accepted it. “Understood. Thank you, Master, for your help. May we ask where you are staying? The Chen family will prepare a proper reward for you.”

Before Shen Yunxuan could respond, Cui Tao floated forward and said, “Just leave it to me! I’ll deliver it to the Master. But it must be done before sunset—she still has important matters to handle today.”

The brothers quickly agreed and left to prepare the reward. Shen Yunxuan hesitated for a moment before looking at Cui Tao.

Cui Tao bowed deeply before Shen Yunxuan. “Master! I stopped you in the outskirts today—I don’t know if I caused any delay in your affairs. Not only did you save the Young Master, but you also helped my Mistress escape her suffering and reunite with her family. I am beyond grateful.

“The Chen family’s reward—please accept it. I will let them know what kind of gifts you would appreciate.”

Shen Yunxuan smiled. “Alright, thank you. I will go and take care of my business now.”

🌸˚˖𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒✧🩷˚⋆