As the Awakening of Insects passes and the Dipper points to Ding, the Spring Equinox nears, with the Dipper aiming at Ren.

The courtyard is tranquil, a gentle breeze caressing the melting moonlight. The red-skirted female ghost, addressed as Miss Xue by the Daoist, has donned an elegant white dress tonight to admire the blossoms.

After all, even a female ghost is still a woman, and her wardrobe is overflowing with dresses, filling several large chests.

However, she merely indulges in solitary appreciation, her beauty untainted by the desire to please a suitor, not even worth a single copper coin.

The middle-aged Daoist, in terms of appearance, is truly lacking, and a mundane man hopelessly obsessed with money.

Beyond the wall, flowers bloom in abundance, and within the courtyard stands a swing.

She sits on the wooden plank, her hands gripping the ropes, toes touching the ground before lifting off, setting the swing into a gentle motion.

Before the Daoist took up residence, the mansion had long been abandoned, overgrown with weeds, and infested with snakes and rats.

Now, everything is orderly, flowers blooming throughout the courtyard, vying for beauty and fragrance.

The middle-aged Daoist, the greatest contributor to this transformation, is currently squatting at the top of the steps, holding a white bowl filled with juice brewed from some kind of herb in one hand, and a wooden-handled brush in the other, scrubbing his teeth. Occasionally, he raises his head, throat gurgling, and spits out the water before resuming his dental “ablutions.”

She asks, “Is dandelion broth really as miraculous as you claim? Can it truly strengthen teeth and bones?”

Dandelions, like wild grasses, also known as Yellow Flower Langs, grow freely in cracks between stones and bricks. Flower collections and illustrated books seem to hardly deem them worthy of recording.

“What would I gain from lying to you?”

The Daoist, having just tilted his head back to gulp down some water, nods vigorously, saying indistinctly, “If, according to the medicinal formula, it is refined into a Mountain Immortal Rejuvenation Pill, even an elderly man with snow-white hair could regain his dark locks and regrow lost teeth. For a vigorous young man, the effects are even more remarkable. Someone like Zhang Hou, although still a youth, often burns the midnight oil studying. Taking this pill would sharpen his senses, strengthen his physique, and enhance clarity.”

Xue Ruyi smiles, “How convenient that the Daoist happens to have such a bottle of secret pills on hand, right? It’s just that the price is not cheap, but for acquaintances, a 50% discount?”

“No, such coincidences don’t exist in this world.”

The Daoist tilts his head to spit out water, places the wooden brush diagonally in the white bowl at his feet, and shakes his head. “Miss Xue, do you remember the porridge and vegetables from a few days ago? You said they were fresh and delicious, and asked me what kind of vegetables they were. But I kept it a secret then, deliberately not revealing the answer. In fact, they were the early spring leaves of this dandelion. Simply blanch them in a pot, then lightly mix them with my secret spicy sauce and sesame oil, and eat them with white rice porridge. Even the most exquisite delicacies cannot compare.”

Xue Ruyi nods. In matters of satisfying the stomach, this Daoist has many tricks up his sleeve, and they don’t cost much.

The Daoist tentatively asks, “If Miss Xue is sincere, I can follow the medicinal formula to refine a batch of pills. Zhang Hou wants to pass the provincial examination and has been studying too hard lately, so he needs some nourishment. In a while, the dandelions will be too old, and the effect of the pills will not be as good.”

Xue Ruyi rolls her eyes. You’ve gone to great lengths with this roundabout scheme, aren’t you just trying to swindle money from my pocket?

Without anyone pushing it, the swing sways on its own, rising and falling. She gazes at the flowers and plants, some tall, some short.

She vaguely recalls many years ago, red walls and yellow wintersweet, an exquisite sight.

According to this Daoist, if a person is fortunate enough to live in a prosperous era and can forget all worries, and is also proficient in the art of growing flowers and plants, it’s as if all seasons are spring, making one unaware of the approach of old age.

Therefore, the courtyard is meticulously maintained, whether planted directly in the ground or in pots, the flowers and plants are lush, the fragrance is refreshing, and different flower species bloom in succession, some rich but not gaudy, some pale but not cold.

In the courtyard alone, the Daoist has arranged as many as seven or eight kinds of potted plants as a welcome to spring, besides pine, bamboo, and plum, there are also several pots that the Daoist calls the “leaders” of the spring welcome.

He says a few beautiful words, but in fact, the Daoist just takes them out to sell for money.

For example, there is an old flower that the Daoist moved from somewhere, the branches as thick as a woman’s arm, parts of the bark already peeled off, exposing the bone, the old roots protruding like dragon claws, planted in a red clay pot, in a quaint, leaning shape. Even a layman like Xue Ruyi knows that this bonsai will not lack buyers willing to pay a high price.

Those several tree peonies, which the Daoist calls “palace spring flowers,” are planted in a sunny spot. When it was cold, the Daoist specially covered them with straw. After spring arrived this year, the Daoist has been watering them daily. Before they sprouted, he even specially watered them with manure fertilizer, which made Xue Ruyi frown at the time.

Xue Ruyi glances at the several flower pots neatly arranged in the corner of the wall, the branches slender, slightly vine-like, the flowers blooming in goose yellow.

Many potted plants have come and gone in the courtyard, probably all exchanged for bits of silver, but this flower is the only one that hasn’t moved since it appeared, probably because the Daoist is particularly fond of it, or more likely because it can’t be sold for a good price, so he simply doesn’t sell it.

She points a finger at it and asks, “Are you most fond of those few ‘gold belts’?”

This flower has a more common name, the winter jasmine.

The Daoist raises his head and glances at the corner of the wall, nodding. “I treat flowers and trees like famous generals commanding troops, the more the better, I accept all comers. This flower is the first to welcome spring, blooming even before the plum blossoms, and it blooms abundantly and for a long time, so I like this flower the most, without exception.”

She asks absentmindedly, “Wu Di, what’s your real name?”

The middle-aged Daoist smiles, “Chen Jianxian. The Jian of Seeing, and the Xian of Sage.”

She is stunned. Is he being so honest?

The Daoist sincerely suggests, “Miss Xue can call me by my full name in the future.”

Muttering the name twice, Chen Jianxian, Chen Sword Immortal? Finally realizing the pun, Xue Ruyi spits, “No ivory comes from a dog’s mouth, you never tell the truth!”

Wu Di, Unrivaled. Chen Jianxian, Chen Sword Immortal?

The middle-aged Daoist smiles, “Why are you cursing all of a sudden? I’m just old now, and my self-cultivation has improved. If it were when I was young and energetic, I would have to argue with you, especially in my youth when I hated evil as much as I hated an enemy, ha.”

He truly lives up to his reputation as a ghost swindler.

Xue Ruyi is too lazy to pay attention to this, asking, “I haven’t asked yet, what are you doing here in the capital?”

“Visiting old friends.”
“Reminiscing with old acquaintances? Who are you looking for? Relatives, distant kin? Or friends from the martial world? Could it be you failed to make a name for yourself and plan to find some shady figures to leech off of, partnering up to swindle others?”

The Daoist, who called himself Chen Jianxian, shook his head and smiled, “None of the above.”

Xue Ruyi’s interest was piqued instantly, and she jested, “It wouldn’t be for revenge, would it?”

She turned to look at the Daoist. Perhaps she found her own jest amusing, she couldn’t help but giggle, laughing to herself, “Based on you? Those pathetic ghost drawings of yours wouldn’t even scare me. If you really got into a brawl, how many strapping young men could you handle?”

The Daoist chuckled, “Haven’t you noticed I practice my fist and stance every morning and evening? No need for immortal arts. Dealing with two or three strong men with my bare hands is no problem at all.”

She rolled her eyes. Just that little bit of fistplay, going back and forth a few steps? The capital has dozens of martial arts schools, I bet you any random instructor could knock you flat.

“Tell me, if it’s truly for revenge, I can help you strategize. Maybe if it turns into a murder, I can even help you cover your tracks and escape.”

She was one to enjoy a good show, regardless of the consequences.

The Daoist shook his head, “Miss Xue, please don’t guess wildly. It’s just catching up, no need for all the ruckus and bloodshed. That’s not something a law-abiding citizen like me would do.”

If he hadn’t learned of the Ma family’s long-term scheme beforehand, he would have come to the Jade Edict Kingdom to “reminisce” even sooner.

Of course, meeting earlier would also be pointless, most likely resulting in a failed attempt at revenge, only to be uprooted and eradicated by the enemy.

After escorting Li Baoping and the others to the Great Sui Academy, during his first southern journey to Treasure Bottle Continent, he had encountered Ma Kuxuan in a foreign land and even fought him.

Life is unpredictable. Who would have thought that his second journey to the Sword Qi Great Wall would have him stay there for so long?

Waiting until he successfully returned to the Vast Expanse, started a sect, built a lower branch, borrowed from the mountains and rivers to fill the earth’s void, and went to the outer heavens to forge swords…

Xue Ruyi inexplicably said, “A biting dog never barks. I think someone like you might seem like a soft dough, but if you were to get serious, your strikes would be swift and merciless.”

The Daoist remained composed, smiling, “The world’s joys and sorrows, love and hate, are all like slowly brewing wine. Only when the mud seal is opened must one drink heartily, a full-bodied gulp.”

Xue Ruyi turned her head, “Scary.”

The Daoist smiled, “People who fear nothing are never lacking.”

She inexplicably thought of the official in the nearby county yamen, who secretly lent money at exorbitant rates and also sold smuggled salt. Of course, the official wouldn’t do it personally, but would have trusted henchmen doing these dirty deeds. And he had a backer, whose backer was seemingly a Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice. As for who this Vice Minister’s backer was, she didn’t know, a Minister? The Emperor? Or some mountain immortal who had achieved enlightenment?

Xue Ruyi asked, “You say they’re already so rich, why don’t they know when to stop? They’ve earned money that they can’t even spend in several lifetimes, their homes must be piled with silver mountains, right?”

Chen Pingan smiled, “Many so-called esteemed families, if it weren’t for this style of doing things, single-mindedly squeezing the lifeblood out of the people, busy day and night scraping bones and sucking marrow, with no moral boundaries, they wouldn’t be able to become the ‘so rich’ people Miss Xue speaks of. There’s an order to it, it’s not that complicated.”

Xue Ruyi was momentarily speechless.

Talking to him was fine when it came to casual chatting, but as soon as it involved reason and logic, it became incredibly boring.

Previously, this Daoist would follow many ordinary people to the frozen river to chisel ice and sell it for money. It seemed that any business that could make money, he was willing to try, such as bonsai, which he was also very good at.

She remembered that not long after the Daoist came to the residence, she had roughly discerned his character. Regardless of how greedy he was, she had to say that he was indeed a gentleman when it came to matters between men and women.

So before, she would often tease this man who was as serious as a Daoist scholar. But one day, the Daoist just said one sentence that disgusted her so much that she never had the idea of teasing the Daoist again. She was sitting on that swing at the time, and the middle-aged Daoist was also sitting on the steps behind her, turning his head to ask that Wu Di a question, if he was looking at her buttocks.

In fact, before that, the Daoist would pretend not to hear some of her lewd words and never respond.

Perhaps he was so annoyed by her constant teasing that the Daoist blurted out, “Does having a bigger ass mean you can shit more?”

Crude! Vulgar!

Xue Ruyi sighed for no reason, “Flowers bloom for a season.”

Whether it’s cultivators or spirits and demons, how is their view of life, aging, sickness, and death in the world below different from a mortal scholar’s view of the flowers blooming and withering in this courtyard?

She turned her head and asked, “How did you become a Qi Refiner?”

The Daoist smiled slightly, “Under a stroke of fate, I learned the art of mountain climbing when I was young.”

She turned back her head and said softly, “You are a smart person, you must have guessed a rough idea. The reason why I, as a ghost, can live here for a long time must be because I have some backing.”

The Daoist nodded, easy to understand, not difficult to guess, “Someone above you.”

In the City God Temple of the capital, there is a high-ranking Civil Judge who seems to have been an old acquaintance of hers in their respective past lives.

This Judge had visited the mansion twice during his night patrols to meet with her. However, it was a bit like an undercover visit, without any fanfare.

The realms of Yin and Yang each have their own officialdom. As the City God Temple of Jade Edict Kingdom, it has twenty-four offices set up according to regulations. This Civil Judge, as the City God’s right-hand man, governs six of them, including the Yin Yang Office, which is the head of all offices. But that is an old story that has been turned over, and now, it’s hard to say.

As long as it is officialdom, regardless of the depth of knowledge or the level of ability, whether it is the Yang world or the Yin world, the most feared thing is being out of place.

Xue Ruyi suddenly turned her head, her face as cold as ice, filled with murderous aura.

The Daoist said helplessly, “Miss Xue, we are all upright people, what are you thinking about?”

Like I said, read less stories of talented scholars and beautiful women, and more classics and commentaries.

Xue Ruyi angrily said, “Then do you know what I’m thinking?!”

The Daoist said, “Give a dog a bad name and hang him.” (Accuse someone without grounds and you’ll find a reason to punish them.)

Seeing that the female ghost still had an unpleasant look on her face, the Daoist could only explain, “You can say that I am greedy for money, but lustful? Miss Xue, you can distrust my character, but you can’t not trust your own judgment of people, right?”

Xue Ruyi thought this made sense.
The Daoist priest asked with curiosity, “Might I be so bold as to inquire, Milady Xue, what powerful backer you have in the officialdom? How high of a ranking official must they be to allow you to settle down mere steps away from the county yamen, yet not a single ghostly official or errand runner from the County City God Temple has ever dared to darken your door?”

Xue Ruyi scoffed, “I am a close friend of the Jiasuo General of the County City God Temple, are you afraid?”

The Daoist furtively swallowed, stood up, and respectfully cupped his hands toward the County City God Temple from afar, shaking them vigorously a few times. He said in a deep voice, “This humble Daoist is devoted to cultivation, possessing righteous qi within. Evil cannot encroach, and I am never afraid of walking at night. Moreover, General Jiasuo is inherently tasked with punishing the wicked and eliminating evil, and is most impartial in his enforcement of the law. Especially our county’s General Jiasuo, along with the Seventh and Eighth Masters, are widely praised as model officials! If I had any influence at the Capital City God Temple, I would have long suggested promoting these three esteemed officials to more important positions.”

Xue Ruyi rubbed her forehead, thinking, “Such blatant flattery, they can’t even hear you.”

This place was different from others, even the County City God didn’t interfere.

“Chen Jianxian, do you not have a woman you cherish?” Otherwise, why would he be so rarely at home?

“I do, how could I not?”

“You actually do?”

Xue Ruyi knew that he was a genuine Qi Refiner, though his realm was insignificant. Second realm? At most, a third realm Qi Refiner? But after all, he had one foot on the mountain.

She playfully teased, “Which maiden is it? How old is she? Is she about your age, or a younger woman? Has she been bewitched to take a fancy to you? A man in his middle age is useless in all things. You’re so old, in your forties, and you’ve accomplished nothing, relying on a private Daoist license to wander around all day. Find an opportunity to bring her over and let me see. Heh, I’ll break you up, lest you bring misfortune to her.”

In truth, this Daoist earned a considerable amount of money from his fortune-telling stall every day, even surpassing ordinary small households in the capital.

However, as a Qi Refiner, it was far from enough. Just enduring the wind and sun every day, it would take years to earn a single snowflake coin?

Chen Pingan smiled, “You won’t be able to break us up.”

Xue Ruyi turned her head and joked, “The woman who could fancy you, her appearance probably isn’t very pleasing, is it?”

The middle-aged man sitting on the steps simply smiled and said nothing. He crossed his arms, looked up at the moon, his eyes filled with tenderness.

Xue Ruyi curled her lip.

“Ugh, how sickeningly sweet.”

Perhaps the man behind her was unpromising, perhaps the woman he yearned for was indeed plain, but they were, after all, deeply in love.

Men’s words are deceiving, the talk of demons.

But the eyes cannot lie.

The Daoist took out a crimson gourd, an old object, its surface polished to a glossy sheen.

Xue Ruyi smelled the fragrance of wine and couldn’t help but ask, “Which brand of wine is this? It’s so fragrant.”

The Daoist smiled, “This is homemade wine. It’s naturally delicious, and known for being cheap and good. One just has to drink it sparingly.”

Xue Ruyi simply got up and stood on the swing.

She remembered when the middle-aged Daoist had just moved into the residence, a swing was swaying without anyone on it, emitting a series of silvery laughter.

The passing Daoist was so frightened that he immediately grabbed a stack of talismans from his sleeve, his wrist trembling. He took out a fire starter, ignited the talismans, and raised them high, performing the Big Dipper steps in a chaotic manner. While flailing a fire dragon, he sprinted away, chanting incantations from some unknown Daoist lineage, slamming the door shut with great speed. Crackling sounds followed as he plastered worthless yellow paper talismans all over the door, walls, and windows.

The Daoist looked at the figure standing on the swing, sighed, and raised the wine gourd in his hand, silently taking a sip.

A similar yet different scene, a swing inside the wall, a Daoist outside.

Xue Ruyi playfully said, “By the way, who exactly are you trying to catch up with? You’ve been in the capital for so long, yet you haven’t met them once? Is it so difficult to meet them? Could it be His Majesty the Emperor?”

The Daoist seemed unwilling to mention this matter and changed the topic, “In a few days, it will be the Spring Equinox. Milady Xue should pay more attention.”

At the Spring Equinox, yin and yang are perfectly balanced, day and night are equal, and the weather is neither cold nor hot. Yin and yang interact, becoming thunder, and激揚 becomes lightning.

For the world of ghosts and spirits, the time after the Awakening of Insects and before Pure Brightness is a difficult period. Especially after the Spring Equinox, the yang energy gradually increases, attacking the yin, and thunder begins to occur.

Xue Ruyi obviously didn’t take it to heart. Although she was a female ghost, she was a well-cultivated yin being, almost a heroic spirit, and naturally not afraid of the thunder and lightning that followed the seasonal cycles and were born of nature.

The middle-aged Daoist only mentioned it casually, rubbing his hands to himself, “On the Spring Equinox, I’ll show off my skills again and prepare a table full of spring dishes for you. Eating spring vegetables, bamboo shoots, artemisia, toon buds… I’ve traveled all over, been to many places. After the Spring Equinox, there’s the peach blossom flood near Caiyi Country, the mandarin fish and crucian carp in the rivers are delicious whether steamed or braised. Further south, near the sea, at this time of year, a large plate of stir-fried clams with chives is a must.”

Xue Ruyi said in an annoyed tone, “Is all you know is eating?”

The Daoist smiled, “The people regard food as heaven.”

Xue Ruyi was momentarily speechless, jumped off the swing, intertwined her fingers, and stretched.

The Daoist looked up at the sky and softly said, “Rain on the Spring Equinox brings a bountiful year, but this year, the climate in the capital is likely to be clear and without rain.”

Withdrawing his gaze, the Daoist smiled, “According to my calculations, on the day of Pure Brightness, there may be thunder, and it will be quite loud. At that time, Milady Xue need not overthink it.”

Xue Ruyi mocked, “So Daoist Chen can not only fortune tell for people, but also calculate the weather? A true master hides their abilities.”

The Daoist said, “All knowledge, whether easy or difficult, shallow or profound, is ultimately ‘accumulated thought suddenly released’. Difficult or not, both are difficult and not difficult.”

Xue Ruyi shook her wrist, intending to return inside.

The Daoist pointed to the flower hall on the side of the main hall behind him, “Milady Xue, in the next few days, I may need to borrow this precious space. I wanted to inform Milady Xue in advance.”

Xue Ruyi nodded, puzzled, “What are you going to do? Preparing to host a banquet for friends? Worried I’ll run out and disrupt things?”

The Daoist shook his head and smiled, “Heaven’s secrets cannot be revealed.”

Xue Ruyi reminded him, “It’s fine to hold a banquet, but don’t call a few courtesans over to frolic and add to the noise! It’s so smoggy!”

The Daoist waved his hands repeatedly, “Dozens of taels of silver at every turn, are we drinking wine or drinking money?”

Xue Ruyi sneered, “You certainly know the market price. Indeed, people are not licentious only because they are poor.”
The Daoist smiled faintly, “Men fear most feigned ignorance. With money, they act; without, they still desire. It is one like this poor Daoist, with a clear conscience, who is truly honest and upright.”

Xue Ruyi floated away gracefully.

The Daoist stepped into the side hall, glanced at the long table, nodded, and gently twisted his fists, preparing to fetch his writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone from his residence to display his talents here.

Just as he turned his head, the Daoist saw a head hanging upside down right in front of him. Instinctively, he threw a punch, stopping just short of the female ghost’s face, and exclaimed angrily, “Xue Ruyi, you’ll scare someone to death!”

The female ghost floated down gently. The Daoist, still fuming, strode out of the side hall. She followed behind him, asking, “What do you need the flower hall for?”

The Daoist said unhappily, “Living in the capital is difficult; a horse doesn’t fatten without night grazing. This poor Daoist has to earn money for rent.”

The female ghost yawned. “I find it strange. You’re a mediocre Qi refiner, but still a Qi refiner. Why do you love money so much?”

“For daily life, it’s all about firewood, rice, oil, and salt; recognize money, not people, just don’t be obsessed with it. To become an immortal, a true person, is nothing more than being earnest, not biased, just don’t be without focus.”

“Cultivating the Dao, a thousand paths, all methods are explained by a single word.”

Xue Ruyi frowned and asked, “What’s the explanation?”

“The heart.”

“The unity of form and spirit, the heart in harmony with the divine.”

Perhaps it was because he had wandered the world for many years and was accustomed to the ways of the Jianghu, he knew a lot of miscellaneous, unorthodox things. In short, this fake Daoist’s cultivation wasn’t high, but his knowledge was very diverse.

No matter what she talked about, he could always chime in.

The Daoist walked and spoke eloquently, “Earthly immortals, earthly immortals, half-heaven, half-earth, refining form to reside in the world, dwelling in the human realm, with long lifespans, almost immortal.”

“Those of ghost cultivation who attain the Dao are called ghost immortals. However, compared to those earthly immortals, they are still slightly inferior, after all, they have abandoned the Yang spirit’s external self, only leaving a pure Yin spirit. It is not the true Great Dao; therefore, their divine image is unclear, and they have no name on the Three Mountains. Although they can avoid the cycle of reincarnation, they still cannot ascend to the green registers, with nowhere to go forward and no return. If they want to attain the Dao, it is rather difficult…”

Xue Ruyi followed beside him, listening in a daze. She had never heard of many of these things before.

She wondered which strange, unofficial history he had copied it from.

Seeing the middle-aged Daoist stop and start rummaging in his sleeves, she looked up and smiled, “Miss Xue, we’re so familiar now, and we can be considered to be kindred spirits, aren’t we? Don’t think that this poor Daoist’s fortune-telling is incredibly accurate; my real forte is talismans. How about we make a deal? Such a cultivation practitioner of Xue’s background would find it most effective. Just bathe and fast, then burn this talisman, light three incense sticks, and silently recite a few times: ‘So-and-so reverently honors the Three Mountains and Nine Marquis.’ There are no tedious rituals, and the effect is unbelievably good!”

She scoffed, “Repeating the same old trick, trying to take advantage of acquaintances again?! Don’t you know how to come up with a new scheme?”

The Daoist sighed. “Other talismans, I won’t mention, are indeed slightly lacking, but have you ever seen this poor Daoist actively peddling talismans to Miss Xue? Only this talisman is genuine, honest, and fair. Buying one is a small profit, buying a stack is a big profit. In short, the more you buy, the more you earn. If I didn’t have a close relationship with Miss Xue, I would never reveal it easily.”

Xue Ruyi said coldly, “If it’s so good, why don’t you use it yourself?”

The Daoist looked at her with pity.

It was the kind of look a clever person gives a fool.

She realized she had misspoke, as he had indeed said it was for practitioners like her. She hesitated for a moment, then beckoned, “Let me take a look first, to examine its quality.”

Ordinary yellow paper, with vermilion ink. The talisman was drawn with three mountain peaks, strange and eccentric, not looking like any proper talisman.

She didn’t want to be a sucker. Although she had already made up her mind, she still asked, “How many copper coins for a talisman?”

The Daoist complained, “What are you thinking? A few copper coins? You can’t even buy a talisman paper!”

Xue Ruyi said, “Old Man Liu’s shop next door sells such inferior yellow paper for only a few coins per knife! If Daoist Chen cuts it smaller, wouldn’t it be a great profit?”

No wonder the Daoist always called Old Man Liu ‘Brother’ when he saw him.

“The talisman paper isn’t expensive, but the technique is high! It is said that mountains are not high, but spirits make them divine. The same principle applies to talismans. Drawing talismans depends on the talisman’s core, and the value of the paper is secondary.”

Seeing that the Daoist remained calm and unblushing, he took out a few more talismans from his sleeve. “Forget it, Miss Xue’s vision is high, after all. No matter, this poor Daoist has a few talismans of even better quality, but the price is a bit higher. These are the ones at the bottom of the box, usually kept secret…”

Tsk tsk, he really was a businessman accustomed to trading, with interconnected schemes and many backup plans.

“Stop saying ‘this poor Daoist, this poor Daoist,’ Chen Celestial Master, aren’t you ashamed?”

Xue Ruyi threw the talismans back to the Daoist and strode away.

Vernal Equinox, no rain in the sky, the earth’s Qi is warm.

Outside the capital, people are enjoying the spring outing. Besides the officials’ children in fine clothes and angry horses, there are many beauties by the water’s edge, with swaying spring ornaments in their hair.

The sky is full of kites, nimble swallows, extremely long centipedes, or fighting each other as kites and hawks. Kite shops, old and reputable in the capital, are making a killing.

According to the imperial court’s etiquette, the emperor and monarch must worship the sun at the altar on the Spring Equinox.

After today’s sacrifice, His Majesty the Emperor of Yu Xuan Kingdom will have the Ministry of Rites send out a Spring Ox Picture produced in the palace to the officials of the capital above the fourth rank. It is printed on a half-sized red dragon-patterned paper, with the twenty-four solar terms, famous quotes, and newly written poems by the Hanlin Academy scholars, along with a carefully drawn agricultural picture by the Painting Academy’s attendant. Those responsible for delivering the pictures are mostly handsome young officials from the Ministry of Rites. The new Jinshi scholars from other ministries and divisions often participate in this as well. They are known as the ‘Spring Officers’ on this day, and the gatekeepers of the residences of imperial relatives, generals, and ministers need to give the Spring Officers a symbolic red envelope. Following the example from above, the folks in the capital also have similar ‘Spring Sayers.’ Officials send pictures to officials, and some resourceful and money-making commoners send pictures to wealthy people. After knocking on the door, they say auspicious words, like ‘not violating the farming season’ and ‘five winds and ten rains,’ to the householders. If they are nimble and visit enough houses in a day, they can earn quite a bit. Of course, they are turned away more often. Some wealthy households, annoyed by frequent knocking to ask for red envelopes, simply have their gatekeepers drive people away.
In the Imperial City of Yu Xuan Kingdom, experienced purveyors of Spring Festival greetings, even those traveling long distances, would invariably seek out Yongjia Street. This street was renowned for housing families of exceedingly wealthy lineage; otherwise, it would never have been named after a county. Naturally, these common folk offering spring greetings wouldn’t dare to call upon just any household. Yet, they would specifically seek out a certain family surnamed Ma, knowing their efforts wouldn’t be in vain, as everyone who called upon them would receive a generous red envelope. Rumor had it that the gatekeepers of the Ma residence spent their entire day handing out red envelopes. Simply deliver a Spring Ox picture, utter a few auspicious phrases like “May the five grains flourish” or “May the wind and rain be favorable,” and everyone who came would receive a share – a full six taels of silver! No matter how weary, the Ma family’s gatekeepers always greeted the spring messengers with a cheerful smile and utmost courtesy.

The Imperial City was divided into two counties, roughly with the north being wealthy and the south impoverished. The latter fell primarily under the jurisdiction of the Changning County government.

Two spring messengers, one old and one young, had traveled from the north to the south in search of a livelihood. One carried Spring Ox pictures while the other recited auspicious greetings. They had been at it since dawn till dusk, and after deducting the “tribute” they were obligated to pay to a certain Jianghu gang, they had only earned a meager three taels of silver. Alas, this seemingly temporary occupation had, over the years, developed its own set of rules and customs that needed to be observed. Not just anyone could become a spring messenger, nor could they knock on doors at random. Disregarding the rules could lead to being cornered and beaten in an alleyway. However, there were some boroughs and lanes where one had a chance to strike it rich. As twilight approached, the younger one was still energetic, but the old man was growing weary. On this street, no one answered their knocks. The frail old man sat on a step, supporting his back with one hand and patting his leg with the other, looking as if he would be returning empty-handed. Were the residents of this street truly so poor? Considering its proximity to the Changning County government, they shouldn’t be so destitute. Earlier, the old man had gritted his teeth and spent eight qian of silver to purchase the right to deliver greetings on this street, eight qian of silver, now gone to waste without even a ripple. The old man frowned, filled with worry.

The young man suggested trying their luck elsewhere, but the old man smiled and declined. The young man, carrying the bamboo basket, squatted down and gently massaged the old man’s legs.

The door of a residence creaked open, and a middle-aged Taoist priest emerged. The young man immediately stood up, took out a Spring Ox picture from the bamboo box on his back. His grandfather was already exhausted, so he, who had memorized the opening remarks while following his grandfather all day, would take his place. However, before the young man could speak, the Taoist priest smiled, waved his hand, and uttered two words, “Same trade.”

The words “Same trade” were more effective than any polite refusal.

The young man was greatly disappointed, a look of disbelief on his face. Not giving money was acceptable, no need for excuses, a perfectly normal occurrence. But why did this Taoist priest have to deceive them?

The middle-aged Taoist priest reached into his sleeve, pulled out a piece of Xuan paper, gently unfurled it, stroked his beard, and said with a smile, “All the Spring Ox picture drafts in this large borough of Changning County are drawn by this humble Taoist.”

The old man immediately stood up, quickly scanned the so-called Spring Ox picture draft, first giving a cupped-fist salute, then smiling and asking, “How does it come to pass that the Daozhang also paints Spring Ox pictures?”

The Taoist priest lowered his head, returned the salute with a single-handed gesture, “This humble Taoist is impoverished.”

“May I ask, how much does the Daozhang charge for each Spring Ox picture?”

“Ten copper coins.”

“Such a low price?! How is it half the price of those in Yongjia County?”

The Spring Ox pictures delivered by commoners were almost all crude, a world apart from the official, imperial-made Spring Ox pictures, whether in terms of material or content.

“This humble Taoist is generous.”

“Then, may I commission a hundred Spring Ox pictures from the Daozhang for next year?”

The Taoist priest shook his head and smiled, “Unfortunately, this humble Taoist is merely traveling here, temporarily lodging, and will not stay long.”

The young man finally spoke, tentatively saying, “I’ve heard that there’s a fortune-telling stall near the Changning County government, that tells fortunes very accurately, drawing lots, reading palms, character divination, and copper coin divination, all very skillful.”

The middle-aged Taoist priest stroked his beard and smiled, “That’s quite the coincidence, if there are no unforeseen circumstances, far away in the horizon, yet right before your eyes, that is none other than this humble Taoist.”

The young man was filled with unexpected joy, “Daozhang is truly the Iron-Mouthed Diviner, Wu Xianchang?!”

The Taoist priest narrowed his eyes and twirled his beard, “An undeserved reputation.”

On the wall, the ghost in the colorful dress rolled her eyes.

The old man standing on the side of the steps hesitated to speak, only glancing at the young man he depended on for survival, his eyes filled with longing and hope, so he couldn’t bear to say anything.

The Taoist priest smiled, “Young Master, are you here to inquire about marriage or wealth?”

The young man blushed instantly. How could he be addressed as Young Master? This Daozhang was far too amiable.

The young man gathered his courage and said, “It’s nothing like that. I just want to ask one thing, can I ask the Daozhang to help me draw a few talismans, the kind where you place a basin on the roadside and burn talisman paper inside, to remotely pay tribute to ancestors.”

The Taoist priest asked in confusion, “Why not burn paper money at the grave during Qingming Festival?”

The young man said, “My grandfather and I are from another region, we came from the south, traveled a very long way, and our home was lost long ago.”

The old man sighed. In truth, they weren’t blood-related grandfather and grandson, the twists and turns of their lives were difficult to explain.

Initially, the old man took care of a child, and later, the child took care of the old man, depending on each other for survival, like repaying each other’s debts.

The Taoist priest asked, “If there really is such a talisman, how much money are you willing to spend to buy it?”

“All the money I have! If it’s not enough for now, I can write an IOU and pledge with the Daozhang!”

“IOUs are not to be taken seriously, how much savings do you currently have?”

“Over the years, I’ve saved seven taels and eight qian of silver, and a pot of copper coins!”

“Only this much?”

The young man was ashamed and remained silent. The old man felt guilty.

“This humble Taoist can indeed draw Three Officials Talismans, which can bestow blessings, pardon sins, and eliminate disasters for the deceased.”

The Taoist priest pondered in silence, and after a moment, shook his head, “However, this talisman is precious, your little bit of silver is far from enough.”

Just as the young man was about to speak, the Taoist priest, looking impatient, waved his sleeve, and began to issue an eviction order, “Say no more.”

The young man stood in place, the Taoist priest asked, “Given you ten days, are you willing to borrow, steal, or rob, to gather a hundred taels of silver?”

The dark and thin young man lowered his head, looking despondent.

Just now, the Taoist priest looked at the young man, looking at himself in the young man’s eyes.

After the young man bowed to thank him, he and the old man departed together.

Homeless wanderers, missing their homeland, heavy with sorrow.

The ghost on the wall wore a gloomy expression.

Hurtful words, have the pain of swords and halberds.

The Taoist priest suddenly called out to the young man. The young man turned his head in confusion, and the Taoist priest smiled and said, “Heaven maintains vigor through movement; a gentleman strives for self-improvement, Heaven helps those who help themselves.”

The Taoist priest waved his hand, “Go then.”
The youth paused, then bowed once more.

The Daoist simply tucked his hands into his sleeves, turned, and walked back into the residence.

Standing inside the doorway, Xue Ruyi sneered, “What a cultivator! A heart of stone, truly! If you can’t help, then don’t pretend to be mystical. And if you won’t help, fine, but why engage in empty, pretentious drivel? How disgusting!”

Originally, her impression of this money-grubbing false Daoist had improved with time, even feeling a touch of fondness, but witnessing this scene today had truly infuriated her.

The Daoist chuckled, “A humble heart speaks no false words.”

The maiden ghost in colorful skirts flashed briefly, leaving behind a single sentence: “Within three days, get out of this house.”

The Daoist simply smiled and dismissed it.

The night deepened, heavy and dark.

In the distance, the watchman’s clapper echoed through the streets.

The two painted door gods affixed to the residence’s gate shimmered with golden light, and two officials from the Capital City God Temple stepped out. The male was dressed as a scholar, the female in golden armor, a Seven Stars Copper Coin Sword strapped to her back.

Sensing the anomaly at the entrance, Xue Ruyi quickly floated from the attic and arrived at the main hall’s doorway to greet them, respectfully offering a Wanfu salute. Her voice was soft and gentle as she said, “Greetings, Judge Hong, Sister Ji.”

The Civil Judge nodded slightly in acknowledgement. He had left the City God Temple with only a trusted confidante this time, one who had been in charge of the Yin-Yang Bureau for three centuries.

The heads of the Yin-Yang Bureaus in all City God Temples, being the chiefs of all bureaus, could be considered the City God’s foremost aides.

The female spirit in a vital position laughed, “Ru Yi Niang, it’s been a while! How have you been?”

Xue Ruyi had once been a palace maid during the founding of the Yu Xuan Kingdom, specially tasked with opening chests and retrieving pomegranate skirts for the Empress, who had been only a step away from usurping the throne in Yu Xuan’s history. They fondly called her Ru Yi Niang.

She softly inquired, “Was even the top rank in the Imperial Examination rigged?”

The City God spirit, whom Xue Ruyi affectionately called Sister Ji, sighed. “It’s not just the top rank; even the top title in the Spring Examination will be ceded to a simpleton. In fact, the entire Spring Examination in the capital, the Metropolitan Examination and the Palace Examination, barring any unforeseen circumstances, besides Ma Che being the Number One Scholar, the second, third place and the rest of the prestigious rankings of the second class have already been decided behind closed doors.”

Xue Ruyi bit her lip, her face filled with sorrow, “Why is this? If it were the truly talented Ma Che, fine, but why can those spoiled brats all pass the exams?!”

The head of the Yin-Yang Bureau hesitated before revealing the crux of the matter, “Military Judge Wu is involved.”

Xue Ruyi said angrily, “They dare trifle with the fate of a nation’s literary fortune?! Ji Xiao Ping, you, Judge Hong, and the City God, knowing this, will you do nothing?!”

Ji Xiao Ping explained, “Military Judge Wu has his own justifications, able to explain that he is not showing favoritism or breaking the law. This involves ancestral blessings and good deeds in the mortal realm. Xue Ruyi, you can think of it as exploiting loopholes in certain underworld laws. Furthermore, the Western Mountain of the Prince Heir that governs Yu Xuan Kingdom…”

The Civil Judge frowned, “Careful.”

Ji Xiao Ping had no choice but to change her words, “Unless a written accusation is burned as a talisman and submitted to the Oversight Bureau of the Western Mountain Lord’s residence. However, reporting to a higher authority is always a taboo in officialdom.”

Having said this, Ji Xiao Ping glanced at the Civil Judge beside her, her expression complex.

The Civil Judge mocked himself, “Although I haven’t reached the point of being a clay Bodhisattva crossing the river, unable to help myself, I can’t mobilize anyone in the Capital City God Temple besides Ji Xiao Ping’s Yin-Yang Bureau. To be honest, even the Literary Fortune Bureau has defected to that Military Judge Wu. If the Literary Fortune Bureau is like this, let alone the other Bureaus. Haha, a new Emperor brings in his own officials; different paths lead to the same end.”

The Literary Fortune and Military Fortune Bureaus of the City God Temple, the weight of authority and power, are not set, they change depending on the time and place, like the salt division of the nearby county magistrate’s office.

Because according to the agreement with the ancestor of the Zhang family, if one of the latter’s descendants produced a top graduate of the first class, the promise will be fulfilled.

Ji Xiao Ping said, “There’s a mastermind deliberately trying to transfer Master Hong away from the Capital City God Temple of Yu Xuan Kingdom.”

Speaking of this, she said angrily, “One bad apple spoils the whole barrel!”

Ji Xiao Ping took a deep breath and continued to explain to Xue Ruyi, “Master Hong may go near the alternative capital of Da Li, to serve as the City God of a state.”

To be transferred from the Civil Judge of the Capital City God Temple of Yu Xuan Kingdom to the City God of a state of the Da Li Dynasty could definitely not be considered a demotion, but a genuine promotion.

Xue Ruyi immediately offered a Wanfu salute, suppressing the anger in her heart, and softly congratulated, “This servant offers advance congratulations to Judge Hong on his promotion.”

The Civil Judge looked depressed and said, “In officialdom, promotion is naturally promotion, but leaving like this, I’m still unwilling.”

The officials of the City Gods at various levels in the world do not emphasize personal connections as much as the officialdom of the mortal world. Without any connections or incense sentiments to speak of, there is no way to remotely intervene in the affairs of other places. Once one leaves a place, one is not allowed to interfere in the original affairs. This is an iron law of the underworld that cannot be broken, unless a foreigner in a certain place is involved in something like a murder case, in which case the City God Temples of the two places may join forces to handle the case.

Xue Ruyi said with a wry smile, “You’ve endured for so many years, just wait a few more.”

The Civil Judge glanced at the courtyard outside the window and laughed, “This Daoist who only has a private registration is indeed a worthy refined person.”

Ji Xiao Ping nodded and said, “Just look at the maintenance of those flowers and trees, and you know this person is unusual. He is more like a recluse in the mountains and fields, definitely not the greedy person obsessed with money on the surface.”

In a small house, the Daoist snored loudly.

Xue Ruyi became angry when she thought of this fellow, and said with a dark face, “He claims his real name is Chen Jianxian.”

Ji Xiao Ping shook her head and said, “Just listen to it and forget it, don’t take it seriously.”

Judge Hong laughed and said, “This pseudonym is better. See the worthy and think of equaling them, choose the good and follow it.”

Take the best as the standard, think of equaling the worthy, the gentleman is cautious in solitude, see the unworthy and reflect internally.

Ji Xiao Ping hesitated before saying, “Miss Xue, this temporary resident, neither Master Hong nor I can see the depth of his cultivation. Perhaps he is a worldly expert who likes to play in the world, or maybe he is just a liar, it’s hard to say. After all, he is not a native of the Yu Xuan Kingdom, we can’t check the archives, we don’t know his real origin, and the pass-through document associated with the private record is obviously fake. The key is that he has not committed any prohibited violations in the capital, so we can’t transfer confidential books from other countries.”
She couldn’t possibly involve the Capital City God Temple with the Great Li Dynasty just for such a trivial personal matter.

The capital city was so vast, yet they deliberately chose this residence as their foothold. Xue Ruyi couldn’t help but suspect their motives. As a literary judge of the Capital City God Temple, her two previous nocturnal visits here were not only to see an old friend but also to ascertain the cultivation level of this fake Taoist priest and whether he had ulterior motives, scheming for the house and that secret treasure. Cultivation practitioners, especially those unprincipled wild cultivators from the mountains and marshes who would do anything to achieve their goals, were capable of any kind of dirty trick.

In truth, Chen Ping’an was simply passing by on a whim, without any intention or scheme.

It was merely a magical artifact that already belonged to someone else. It was valuable, yes, but not some unclaimed treasure. Was he supposed to seize it by force?

Ji Xiaoping’s face suddenly changed drastically, and she said, “Is it him?”

Ma Kuxuan!

She didn’t even dare to utter his name directly.

The literary judge also felt a headache coming on and nodded, saying, “He just entered the city. He had a drinking session with Song Yu, the Mountain God of Zhe’er Mountain, earlier, and then disappeared. I don’t know why he only entered the capital now.”

Inside the small house, the Taoist slowly opened his eyes, but quickly began to snore like thunder.