That evening, as Jin Shanyao was about to go out, she saw Meng Anci emerge with a short blade tucked into his waistband.
What's wrong with you?
"I'll go with you..." If they encounter any more perverts, he'll deal with them directly...
Jin Shanyao wanted to say, "Aren't you afraid of ghosts? Why are you following along?" But seeing his high spirits and confident demeanor, she swallowed her words. After harnessing the oxcart, the three of them, along with the cat and dog, headed towards the Li Household.
Halfway there, Meng Anci played with Dahuang's tail and said with concern, "Don't go on house calls at night anymore. It's so far and it's dark... it's not safe."
Jin Shanyao in surprise, "We didn't make a house call?"
"Then what are you going to do?"
As soon as he finished speaking, a bad premonition welled up in his heart. Meng Anci stared at the dark road, a chill running down his spine... Sure enough, the next moment he heard his aunt say...
" Licentiate Candidate Li wants to see his father; let's go help him."
Who is Licentiate Candidate Li??? Why does he need his aunt's help to see his father? At this moment, he wished he could hit his head with a stick and make him stupid. Sometimes, reacting too quickly isn't a good thing.
Meng Anci turned his head blankly, his gaze falling on his sister.
Meng Anzhi said calmly, "Don't be afraid... I'm willing to face everything with you."
"Sister... am I really your brother?" Meng Anci was shocked and couldn't believe his sister could do such a thing.
Meng Anzhi looked at him as if he were an idiot. "Whether I'm your biological sister or not, you don't know. But whether you're my biological brother or not, I know better than anyone else, so don't question our blood relationship."
Meng Anci closed his eyes. "Tell me the truth, what are we going to do?" He was unwilling to give up. Perhaps Anzhi Hall had started a new business, such as acting as a lobbyist.
Jin Shanyao comforted him, "When Licentiate Candidate Li's father died, he didn't get to see him one last time, and he wanted us to fulfill his dream."
It also fulfilled his dream. Meng Anci wished he was dreaming. He pulled out a dagger and handed it to Jin Shanyao, steeling his heart.
"Auntie, could you draw a talisman on my dagger, the kind that can kill ghosts?"
Jin Shanyao chuckled softly, raising her hand to coat the dagger with Spiritual Power. "Alright... Slay gods and Buddhas alike."
"That's amazing?!"
"Uh... it's a bit watered down."
Meng Anci...
The oxcart entered the village and stopped in front of the Li Household's house.
Jin Shanyao off the oxcart and was about to knock on the door when Li Yuan quickly came out to greet her, followed by his wife and children.
Li Yuan opened the courtyard gate. " Shopkeeper Jin, you've arrived."
Jin Shanyao nodded, looked at the pile of yellow paper and copper coins in the courtyard, and finally her gaze settled on the paper ox that was half a person tall.
Li Yuan forced a smile, "I made this myself, I don't even know if my dad will receive it..."
Jin Shanyao silent, glancing at the sky above the Li Household. In the cold moonlight, a wisp of black mist was hidden, exactly like the one on Li Yuan's body.
It wasn't a vengeful ghost seeking death, but a sorrowful obsession that clung tightly to the eaves of the Li Household's house.
" Li Yuan, you and your stepfather have a good relationship, right?"
Li Yuan's eyes dimmed. "The kindness my father showed me in raising me is something I can never repay in this lifetime."
The Jin Shanyao, "When does it begin?"
Li Yuan was stunned for a moment, then quickly realized what was happening and hurriedly said to his wife and children, "Quickly, get a tinderbox. Zhuzi, go and move the table out, bring up the cooked meat and vegetables, and also bring out the wine that Dad bought."
Zhuzi exclaimed "Oh!" and hurried off to prepare.
The old ox stood outside the Li Household's gate, its legs as weak as noodles, its head drooping as if it wanted to be buried in its belly. Xiaoli stepped on the ox's hoof and ground it hard.
The old ox mooed in pain, and when it looked up, it saw the paper ox in the Li Household's yard, which startled the ox so much that its eyes widened in shock.
After the offerings were set up, Li Yuan said somewhat awkwardly, " Shopkeeper Jin, let's begin."
Without further ado, Jin Shanyao fiddled with his fingers haphazardly, then raised his hand into the air, his Spiritual Power following the wisp of black mist straight towards Old Man Li's grave.
Old Man Li was squatting in his own grave, deep in thought.
Should he go see his son today? Last night, he leaned against the window and saw Yuan'er staring blankly at the oil lamp again. On the table were silver coins and land deeds, the family fortune that the two of them had painstakingly saved over the years... He wondered what Yuan'er was up to.
Just as Old Man Li was completely baffled, an irresistible force suddenly pulled him out of the grave!
The soul passed through the soil and tree roots, bouncing and tumbling like a ball, feeling dizzy and disoriented. When it opened its eyes again, it had landed in its own yard.
Before Old Man Li knew what had happened, he heard a piercing cry, "Father..."
His soul froze, and he slowly turned his head, only to see his son kneeling on the ground, tears streaming down his face. Old Man Li was stunned at first, "Yuan'er... can you see me?"
With tears in his eyes, Li Yuan said, "Father... your unfilial son has been unable to eat or sleep since you left. That's why I asked the master to summon you so I could say a proper goodbye."
Old Man Li flew into a rage upon hearing this, " Li Yuan... are you confused? What did I say before I died? What are you doing now?"
If outsiders knew, would you still be able to participate in scientific expeditions? I ask you... Who was everything I did for? Why did you destroy yourself with your own hands?
Old Man Li was heartbroken. Half a month ago, his condition worsened, and his son pushed him around on a cart to visit doctors at different homes, only to hear that he didn't have much time left.
The Shopkeeper Tie of the Spring Restoration Hall said that he could use strong medicine to prolong life, but the medicine was too potent and might damage the lungs and internal organs. Li Yuan immediately objected upon hearing this.
He begged the Shopkeeper Tie to prescribe medicine, and after much persuasion at home, Li Yuan finally went out crying to get the medicine. The medicine was pungent and spicy, and after drinking it, his internal organs felt like they were shifting in pain.
Li Yuan couldn't bear to see him suffer and refused to prepare the medicine for him... So he begged Yuan's wife to prepare it for him. He was already so thin, it didn't matter when he died, but he couldn't die at this critical juncture of the imperial examination.
He gritted his teeth and insisted on sending his son to the examination hall, but the Shopkeeper Tie had lied to them; the medicine couldn't prolong life at all.
He didn't hate the Shopkeeper Tie; he hated himself... He could have just held on for one more day, just one more day.
The night Old Man Li died was the day before the provincial examination. He held Li Yuan's hand tightly and plotted with barely a whisper.
After his death, no funeral was to be held. His body was to be hidden in a cellar with several ventilation openings above it, and the area around the body was to be covered with wood ash. The funeral was to be held only after the scientific expedition was completed.
The plan was perfect and aroused no suspicion, but then...
Realizing that things would be exposed, Old Man Li's aura surged instantly. He abruptly turned to look at Jin Shanyao and the other two, his gaze vicious and ruthless, as if he wanted to kill them to silence them.
Slap! Jin Shanyao Old Man Li hard across the face, instantly knocking Old Man Li to the ground.
"If you dare look at me like that again, I'll make sure your soul is annihilated."
Old Man Li sat on the ground, dazed, his eyes as clear as a newborn's. He stared incredulously at Jin Shanyao. How could this girl have encountered him? It shouldn't be like this. Wasn't she a ghost?
Li Yuan stepped in front of Old Man Li and quickly explained, "Father... Shopkeeper Jin is someone I invited; he's a ghost-catching master."
Old Man Li was taken aback. "You've hired someone to arrest me?"
"No, no... You've treated me like your own child, how could I possibly have someone capture you?"
When Li Yuan met Old Man Li's eyes, his nose tingled and tears streamed down his face.