Settling the Score

I helped Zhao Qian out of the room. Zhao Xi and his wife were already standing behind the coffin. Zhao Yi, not having made a significant mistake like his father, wasn't taken to the police station for investigation. Instead, he held Old Man Zhao's portrait behind his eldest grandson, Zhao He.

At the entrance, Uncle Hai and Lin Feiyu were standing outside watching. I told them all the information I got from Han Shanshan about Wu Zhenghua. While they were surprised, they also had an expression of "so that's how it is."

After all, if I didn't mention that the Star Fixing Compass and Compass Manual had been taken by Wu Zhenghua, they might underestimate him if they met him again in the future.

I also didn't expect that a treasure could exert such a powerful effect in someone else's hands. With the Star Fixing Compass, Wu Zhenghua could easily track our whereabouts using Yin and Yang positioning.

Uncle Hai immediately called several of his friends in the county town to discuss the matter. His friends all agreed that if Wu Zhenghua ever showed up, they would unite to deal with him. Therefore, Uncle Hai told me not to worry about Wu Zhenghua for the time being.

Time was up. The guide lit firecrackers and carried two baskets, walking towards the manor.

Lei Qing and over a dozen brothers, each carrying a wreath, led the way. The pallbearers were from the Zhang family, and the procession was quite grand for the county town.

Zhao family relatives were crying incessantly. I, supporting Zhao Qian from behind, felt a pang of sadness. Although I knew Old Man Zhao's soul wasn't in the coffin, it didn't matter whether they led the way or not.

Han Shanshan was a police officer, so she didn't attend to avoid suspicion. Only I was supporting Zhao Qian. Zhao Qian had studied out of town before and didn't have many female friends. Most of her friends were working elsewhere now. In the county, apart from Han Shanshan, she basically had no other female friends. Most of the people who came were male friends who showed up on their own.

Zhao Qian didn't want to deal with them at all now. Even if they greeted her, she would respond weakly and then ignore them.

These rich young masters saw me casually supporting the goddess in their hearts and felt jealous and hateful, cursing Zhao Qian for entrusting herself to the wrong person.

The journey was indeed very short. I supported Zhao Qian and quickly arrived at the prepared grave site. Dragon seeking and acupoint finding was the Zhao family's specialty. The chosen location was by the mountains and water, with the back against the mountain and a river in front. The grave was halfway up the mountain.

Surrounded by towering mountains, the scene was magnificent. Looking up at the mountaintop, clouds swirled, creating a beautiful landscape.

I don't know if it's because I'm usually unlucky, but I miscalculated. I thought something would happen during this funeral procession, but it didn't. When we carried Old Man Zhao's coffin there, the grave pit had already been dug by the Zhao family, and they were just waiting to bury him.

The officiant solemnly began scattering paper money and instructed that certain people of specific ages and zodiac signs should not watch during the lowering of the coffin. Then, he had people lower the coffin into the grave pit.

A string of firecrackers was thrown into the grave pit, along with a lot of paper money. I supported Zhao Qian and watched as Old Man Zhao's coffin was laid to rest.

Then, the Zhang family helped shovel soil onto it, finally forming a tomb mound. The paper house that had been placed over the coffin was put on top, and Lei Qing led the others in arranging the wreaths.

The entire process was without any incident.

The deceased should be respected. I lit three sticks of incense and placed them in front of the grave.

Zhao Qian and I both had some knowledge of incense, so we waited by the side for the incense to burn.

"The deceased has passed on to the Pure Land and will surely bless your family with peace and safety. With the two of you lighting incense and worshipping so earnestly, it's hard not to get rich. And in terms of romance, it will definitely go smoothly." Just as we were waiting, a slightly plump person squeezed over. Seeing us burning incense, he kindly chattered on.

Zhao Qian and I were both focused on the burning incense and didn't pay attention to this fatty. But someone saying comforting words at this time made me feel he was a good person. What's more, his voice sounded familiar, so I intended to turn my head to thank him.

As I turned my head, I was stunned. The fatty next to me didn't seem to mind my gaze at all. He even nodded and smiled at me. He had some acne on his face, looked about twenty-three or twenty-four years old, had short hair, and was very well-fed.

Zhao Qian was still watching the trajectory of the burning incense and didn't notice my gaze.

Zhang Xiaofei!

I secretly thought, "This is bad." This kid actually got away with nothing after tomb robbing and is now helping the Zhao family dig a grave.

"Tian Ge! Look, the incense you and I burned are the same, from left to right, all in a stepped pattern. It's the Pure Land Incense! The incense manual says: 'Cultivators will surely achieve golden elixirs, and commoners will surely have joyous occasions.' It must be Grandpa protecting us." Zhao Qian had already been sad enough. Now that something good happened, she excitedly told me.

"Cultivators will surely achieve golden elixirs, and commoners will surely have joyous occasions. Yes, it's indeed very good, right? Tian Ge!" Zhang Xiaofei's cold smile was very ugly. If one didn't know better, they'd think his mouth was twitching.

I didn't dare to respond, as the fat on his face trembled as he met my gaze, on the verge of exploding at any moment.

"Tian Ge?" Zhao Qian turned to look at me but also noticed Zhang Xiaofei standing nearby. She immediately covered her mouth. That night, she had foolishly called me "Tian Ge," and now he had found us based on that address and voice.

I pretended not to know him and asked, "May I ask who you are?"

"Tian Ge, how have you been since that night on Liancheng Mountain?" Zhang Xiaofei revealed a meaningful smile and drew a triangle on his mouth with his hand.

"Heh heh, Zhang Xiaofei, right? Listen, there was a bit of a misunderstanding about this matter. How about Zhao Qian and I treating you to dinner tonight, and we can discuss it further?" I chuckled awkwardly. At this moment, the Zhang family was a crucial link. If they left in anger because of me, it would be terrible. They might even dig up Old Man Zhao's coffin in anger.

"Oh, inviting me to dinner? That would be great. Zhao Qian lives in a villa in Longyuan Residential Area, right? I'll bring my elder brother to visit tonight. What do you think?" Zhang Xiaofei's expression was unpleasant, but his smile remained as usual.

I glanced at Zhao Qian. She was so scared her face turned pale. The Zhang family were tomb robbers. If they knew we had tricked them on Liancheng Mountain, she could imagine the consequences.

Pure Land Incense, oh Pure Land Incense, now it's truly bliss turning into sorrow.

This dinner was actually a challenge.

And Zhang Xiaofei revealing that Zhao Qian lived in Longyuan Residential Area meant that the monk could run, but the temple couldn't. We had better obediently accept the challenge.

"No problem, we await your arrival." I said, steeling myself.

Zhang Xiaofei's lips curled into a smile, then he turned and beckoned. Several Zhang family members were confused as to why Zhang Xiaofei's expression had suddenly become so serious, but those who knew him understood that Zhang Xiaofei rarely got angry. His current expression was like a deflated ball holding back anger. If they didn't follow, it might explode, so they obediently left with him.

Zhao Xi and his wife came over to ask us why the Zhang family had suddenly left, not even taking their tools like hoes and shovels with them.

Zhao Qian dared not speak, looking at me nervously. She was extremely remorseful now. If she hadn't called me at that critical moment, this situation wouldn't have happened.

Seeing that he couldn't get any information, Zhao Xi left.

After my father left, Zhao Qian said regretfully, "It's over, it's over, Tian Ge, how could I not have remembered the Zhang family..."

"Qian, it's okay. Anyway, the Zhang family would have found out sooner or later. I just don't know how much they lost that night. Seeing Zhang Xiaofei leave so decisively, I guess the most they lost was two or three thousand yuan." I rubbed my temples. How could I get into trouble even when drinking cold water? Something had to happen these past few days!

Look at this sky, clear and crisp autumn air, sunny and beautiful. Why couldn't I escape it?

"Just paying some money? Two or three thousand?" Zhao Qian said with a strange expression.

"Qian, don't you have money either? Don't even have two or three thousand? If you really don't have it, just give them two or three hundred. I'm afraid they'll break their own hands and legs, come here, and extort us for a sky-high price." I really didn't have much money on me. If Zhao Qian didn't intend to let me freeload, I'd probably have to wash dishes at a restaurant. If the boss didn't advance me some wages, I'd starve to death on the streets. Was it possible that Zhao Qian, who appeared glamorous on the surface, was also as broke as a church mouse behind the scenes because of buying talismans and other items, just like me?

"No, it's not that. If it's just about paying money, Qian does have hundreds of thousands in savings. If that's not enough, I can use property and cars as collateral. But won't two or three thousand be a bit too little?" Zhao Qian looked at me cautiously.

Hundreds of thousands? And it's savings! Feng Shui Masters make a lot of money! Alas, I feel quite pathetic after inheriting this Ghost Raising Dao!

"It's fine, we'll try diplomacy first, then force. Let's see how much money the Zhang family wants..."

"Oh, then this time, Qian will definitely listen to Tian Ge! I won't dare to speak carelessly again." Zhao Qian said to me timidly. She had learned her lesson this time. It was fortunate her parents and relatives didn't know, otherwise she would have been scolded severely.

Her brother had offended the Wang family, and she had offended the Zhang family. The siblings had offended a large portion of the other three major Xuanmen besides their own. They could be considered an exceptionally bizarre pair of troublemakers.

"Your grandfather has already been laid to rest. We're just waiting for Uncle Hai to help him dispel his resentment, and then find a Underworld Emissary to guide him into the cycle of reincarnation. So don't overthink things. First, think about what's in front of you. However, these things aren't really issues at all. As long as I'm here, I'll help you to the end." I said, comforting Zhao Qian, afraid she might start overthinking at this moment.

"Mhm, with Tian Ge here, Qian believes we'll definitely turn misfortune into fortune." Zhao Qian looked at me with a blush on her face.

I really liked the expression she had when looking at me, so full of innocence and purity.

We followed Zhao family relatives on foot back to the Zhao Family Manor. Although the Zhao family had just weathered the storm caused by Wu Zhenghua, I could tell they would definitely not escape the center of the tempest in the future.

After all, the affairs of the county's Xuanmen were deeply intertwined.

After bidding farewell to Uncle Hai, Lin Feiyu, and the Zhao family members, I took charge of driving Zhao Qian and Han Shanshan back to Longyuan Residential Area.

We passed a supermarket on the way, where I bought the White Rabbit creamy candy that Yu Xiao Xue had requested, and also a lot of fresh vegetables and fruits. Zhang Xiaofei said he would bring his elder brother to negotiate with us tonight, so since we decided on diplomacy first, we couldn't be too stingy.

Perhaps if we had a drink, this matter could be discussed, like reducing the price from three thousand to one thousand. Don't the Zhang family only care about money?