A few minutes later, He Mingyuan's nephew was the first to wake up.
As soon as he came to, he started shouting about ghosts and all sorts of things, his face full of terror. He Mingyuan hurried to reassure him, and when he saw the other workers around him, he gradually calmed down.
Afterward, he also heard what had happened from He Mingyuan. Once he learned that Ning Wangshu had saved him, he hurried over to thank him profusely.
Another ten-odd minutes passed before the finance department of Zhang Yong's company finally arrived with several security guards and the money.
"Manager Zhang, it's all in here..."
The accountant handed the briefcase he was carrying to Zhang Yong.
Zhang Yong took it and immediately opened it. Inside were stacks and stacks of cash. "Brother Ning, why don't you count it..."
Ning Wangshu glanced at it and casually took out two stacks of cash. "No need. I believe you're a smart man. You wouldn't dare cheat me over this."
"Besides, you should know what would happen if you tried anything with the money and offended me, given what I can do."
At that, Zhang Yong gave an awkward smile and hurriedly said, "You're right, Brother Ning. I wouldn't dare cheat someone as extraordinary as you just to save a mere one million."
Ning Wangshu glanced at him. "All right, close the briefcase. I'll take the money."
"Sure, sure..."
Zhang Yong quickly agreed, then closed the briefcase and held it out with both hands.
Ning Wangshu didn't take it directly. Instead, he raised a hand and gave a wave. The next moment, the briefcase vanished into thin air right before everyone's eyes...
At the sight, Zhang Yong and the workers around him gaped again, staring at Ning Wangshu in astonishment.
After storing the briefcase full of cash in his Storage Ring, Ning Wangshu said goodbye to He Mingyuan and turned to leave...
Once Ning Wangshu had gone, Zhang Yong let out a long breath and couldn't help exclaiming, "This Brother Ning really is like some kind of immortal! With a wave of his hand, the briefcase just vanished into thin air!"
The others around him nodded one after another.
Everything they had seen and heard that day had been deeply shocking to them.
It had completely shattered their previous understanding of the world...
Just then, Zhang Yong suddenly remembered the four pieces of "white paper" in his hand. After what he'd just witnessed, he was even more inclined to believe in these "talismans."
So he immediately said, "Come on, let's go put up all these talismans right away..."
Meanwhile.
After leaving the construction site, Ning Wangshu went straight back to Linchuan Thirteenth High School.
He had wanted to buy his younger sister some things, but school was about to let out, and there wasn't enough time. He'd have to wait until the afternoon.
Still, he stopped nearby to buy some offerings and joss paper so they'd have them when they went to pay their respects to their mother.
Ning Wangshu waited at the Thirteenth High School entrance for a little while. At last, the lunch bell rang.
It wasn't long before Ning Ruoxuan finally came out of school...
"Ruoxuan, over here!"
Ning Wangshu waved and called to her.
"Bro, how long have you been waiting?"
Ning Ruoxuan hurried over at a quick trot.
"I only just got here. Come on, let's find a quiet spot first."
Ning Wangshu took Ning Ruoxuan by the hand and led her away.
"Find a spot?"
Ning Ruoxuan was startled. "Aren't we taking a taxi right away? Qingniu Mountain is pretty far from here. If we don't leave soon, we might not make it back before afternoon classes."
"It's fine. You'll see in a moment."
Before long, Ning Wangshu found a secluded corner. After making sure no one was around, he formed a Concealment Incantation and concealed both himself and his sister.
Then he summoned the Wangshu Sword...
Seeing this, Ning Ruoxuan couldn't help asking in surprise, "Bro, won't other people see you?"
As she spoke, she glanced around.
Ning Wangshu smiled. "Don't worry. I just used magic to conceal both you and me. No one else can see us now, including my Flying Sword."
"Really? That's incredible! So it's basically the same as turning invisible?"
Ning Ruoxuan looked amazed.
"More or less. But my Concealment magic is much more powerful than simply turning invisible. Other people can't see us with their naked eyes, and they won't be able to find us using other methods either."
Ning Wangshu smiled, then added, "All right, enough talk. Come on, Ruoxuan, let's go..."
With that, he took Ning Ruoxuan and leaped onto the Flying Sword.
In an instant, the Flying Sword shot straight into the sky!
"Ah..."
Ning Ruoxuan let out a startled cry, badly frightened. She instinctively clutched Ning Wangshu's arm and looked down. Her legs went weak, and her little face turned deathly pale.
Seeing her like that, Ning Wangshu couldn't help laughing. He patted her shoulder. "Don't be scared. I'm supporting you with spiritual energy. You won't fall!"
Hearing him say that, Ning Ruoxuan could indeed feel an invisible force supporting her body, and she finally settled down a little.
However, when she looked down again, her heart still raced. She quickly looked away and took several deep breaths, not daring to look down again...
Seeing his sister's expression, Ning Wangshu couldn't help finding it amusing. "You don't need to be so nervous. After I take you flying a few more times, you'll get used to it."
At that, Ning Ruoxuan shook her head like a rattle drum and hurriedly said, "No, I-I think I'll stick to traveling by car from now on. This is way too high. It's kind of scary..."
Ning Wangshu smiled and shook his head. "What's there to be afraid of? Once I teach you to cultivate, you'll be able to fly on a sword by yourself someday. You might as well get used to it in advance."
"Teach me to cultivate?"
Ning Ruoxuan's eyes widened as she abruptly looked up at Ning Wangshu.
"Of course. You're my younger sister. I'm definitely going to teach you to cultivate so you can live forever, too."
"After all, to an Immortal cultivator, a mortal's brief century is over in the blink of an eye. I don't want to lose you, my sister, again in a few decades. You're my only family!"
"Bro, I... can I really cultivate, too?"
Ning Ruoxuan's breathing grew a little quick. She looked eager to try, but also somewhat hesitant.
Ning Wangshu smiled. "Why wouldn't you be able to? I'm here, so don't worry. I'll help you establish your foundation tonight, then teach you how to cultivate!"
"Mm!"
Ning Ruoxuan smiled happily and nodded hard, looking forward to it.
Before long, Ning Wangshu brought Ning Ruoxuan to the Qingniu Mountain cemetery. He landed in an unoccupied corner. "Ruoxuan, take me to Mom's grave."
"Okay!"
Ning Ruoxuan nodded and soon led Ning Wangshu to a grave. "Bro, this is it..."
"Mm!"
Ning Wangshu answered in a low voice. He gazed at the gravestone before him and took a deep breath, his emotions surging beyond his control. Then, with a thud, he fell to his knees before his mother's grave...
"Mom, I'm back! I came to see you! Your son has been unfilial. Not only did I fail to take care of you, but I also caused you to meet with misfortune while searching for me..."
Tears filled Ning Wangshu's eyes, and sorrow was written all over his face.
A child wants to care for their parents, but they're no longer there.
That is one of life's greatest sorrows.
But Ning Wangshu's grief went far beyond that.
In a way, he had indirectly caused his own mother's death. The grief, self-reproach, and guilt filled his heart.
Seeing her brother like this, Ning Ruoxuan felt terrible, too.
All she could do was gently pat Ning Wangshu's shoulder. Taking a deep breath, she tried to comfort him. "Bro, you... you shouldn't be so sad."
"I believe Mom, looking down on us from above, must be very happy and relieved to see that you came back safe and sound."
"What's done is done. No amount of sorrow or grief can change it. I'm sure Mom wouldn't want you to stay lost in self-blame and guilt. She'd want us both to live well."
Ning Wangshu took several deep breaths, struggling to compose himself. He looked up at his sister. "You're right. No matter what, we have to keep moving forward."
Then Ning Wangshu looked at his mother's gravestone again and said quietly, "Mom, don't worry. Now that I'm back, I'll take good care of Ruoxuan. I won't let her suffer or let anyone bully her..."
After that, Ning Wangshu took out the offerings and joss paper he'd bought earlier. He set out the offerings and silently burned joss paper for his mother...