Lord City God's Invitation

Yin Qing hesitated at this spot, unable to move forward.

"Mister Ji, this place... my parents told us not to come near here..."

Little Yin Qing wasn't sure how to explain it to Ji Yuan—if he said it outright, would this refined-looking Great Mister misunderstand?

Seeing the boy's troubled expression, Ji Yuan decided not to press a child. Though he knew the ferocious entity inside the residence had already been slain by the combined efforts of the Four Divisions of the City God, others didn't.

"Alright, just leave the buckets and carrying pole at the door. I'll take them in myself."

Ji Yuan spoke with a smile as he stepped forward to help Little Yin Qing unload the pole. Despite having carried water for Ji Yuan a fair distance, the boy's face showed a hint of embarrassment.

"Great Mister, you, you really shouldn't stay here! This place..."

Yin Qing swallowed hard, glanced at the sun in the sky, but still didn't dare speak his mind while standing at the courtyard gate.

The elders at home had said not to gossip about Ju'an Pavilion, especially not about its residents—it invited bad luck, and if some unclean thing took offense, it would be over.

Seeing the boy's torn expression, Ji Yuan understood somewhat and patted Yin Qing on the head.

"Just call me Mister Ji. For someone so young to have such a warm heart is truly rare. As for Ju'an Pavilion, don't worry—I'll be fine living here!"

"Go on back now, don't let your family worry."

"Then, Mister Ji, I'm off..."

Yin Qing couldn't stand staying at Ju'an Pavilion's gate any longer. For a child to have done this much was already impressive. After saying goodbye, he quickly ran off.

Just as Ji Yuan was watching Yin Qing leave, he suddenly sensed something and turned to look down the other path.

Not far away stood a figure dressed like an official runner, clad in white robes with a tall hat. As it moved, it gave Ji Yuan a surreal feeling—and crucially, it made no sound.

A ghost? A ghost that could come out in daylight?

The runner drifted to Ji Yuan's vicinity, then bowed with clasped hands.

"Day Patrol Left Official under the Ning'an County City God, paying respects to Mister Ji!"

Ji Yuan wasn't particularly frightened. Seeing the official-runner-like appearance, he guessed it was a yin emissary of the Ning'an County City God. His brief experience last night had already left him with a favorable impression of the Ning'an City God.

As for how it knew his surname—maybe it had overheard, or perhaps it had means to find out.

"What business do you have with me?"

Since the other party had spoken, Ji Yuan felt obliged to respond.

Not far off, Yin Qing, who hadn't run far, heard Ji Yuan's voice behind him and instinctively stopped to look back.

'This Great Mister isn't talking to me, is he?'

When he turned, he only saw Ji Yuan facing the opposite direction from the pavilion gate, as if speaking to someone—but the path there was completely empty.

Shivering, Yin Qing fled as fast as he could.

The Day Patrol answered Ji Yuan's question with utmost respect.

"Lord City God invites Mister Ji to the City God Temple for a chat. If it's convenient, you may go now."

Now? To see the Ning'an County City God?

Despite his calm exterior, Ji Yuan felt a strange nervousness, like a commoner about to meet the city's top official. As for whether to go—there was no choice.

"Day Patrol, please wait a moment. Let me carry these two buckets inside."

"Please, go ahead, Mister Ji!"

Ji Yuan said no more. He picked up the carrying pole, hooked the rope loops onto the buckets, stood up very carefully, and then, imitating Yin Qing, steadied the ropes with both hands instead of gripping the pole.

At least he didn't embarrass himself in front of the Day Patrol, managing to carry the water steadily to the kitchen door in the courtyard.

The Day Patrol waited outside, watching as Ji Yuan struggled to lift the buckets and pour water into the vat, splashing plenty onto his clothes. He looked nothing like some mysterious master.

Yet somehow, the more this happened, the more respectful the Day Patrol became, not daring to stand casually.

Lord City God had once said that those so-called immortal disciples from famous mountains and great rivers, swaggering and overbearing, were mostly petty people, not true gentlemen—hardly real masters. A true master should align with the natural way of heaven, returning to simplicity!

"Huff..."

Ji Yuan set down the bucket and let out a breath. He looked at his sleeve cuffs and the hem of his clothes—still damp from before, now wet again.

But since waking and lying back down, he had already come to terms with things. He had no intention of playing the master in front of the City God, and without that burden, he felt quite at ease.

Rolling down his sleeves, he casually brushed off his front and back, then walked out of the courtyard gate. After closing the door, he looked at the Day Patrol.

"Let's go. I'll trouble the Day Patrol to lead the way. I'm new to Ning'an County and don't know where the City God Temple is!"

Ji Yuan didn't bother about brushing his teeth now—he'd just go.

"As is only proper! Mister Ji, this way!"

The Day Patrol gestured with his hand and, contrary to Ji Yuan's worry that he might float ahead, took the first step forward on foot.

After Ji Yuan followed, the Day Patrol slowed his pace, walking alongside him as if escorting him. Ji Yuan glanced at him but said nothing—just kept walking. If he got lost, he could always ask.

After a hundred paces, at the first fork in the alley, the Day Patrol hurried ahead to the left, then stood aside and extended his hand.

"Mister Ji, this way, please!"

"Uh, alright!"

As Ji Yuan walked over, the Day Patrol Emissary once again accompanied him at his side.

This is... a bit awkward... I'm really not some big shot...

The Day Patrol Emissary's attitude was far too good; Ji Yuan felt extremely uncomfortable—even Lu Chengfeng back then hadn't been like this.

In a narrow alley of the Tianniu Quarter, the Day Patrol Emissary, invisible to mortal eyes, escorted the seemingly refined Ji Yuan as he strolled forward at a leisurely pace.

To ease the awkwardness, Ji Yuan could only try to strike up a conversation with the Day Patrol Emissary.

"May I ask the Day Patrol's honorable surname?"

Though ghosts had no need to breathe, Ji Yuan felt as if the Day Patrol Emissary had let out a sigh of relief.

"Not worthy of 'honorable.' This Humble One was surnamed Liu in life, given name Jiang!"

"Oh, Liu Day Patrol!"

"Presumptuous, presumptuous!"

This way of speaking felt a bit tedious to Ji Yuan, but there was no helping it—when in Rome, do as the Romans do.

"Was Liu Day Patrol a native of Ning'an in life?"

"Indeed. This Humble One was from Xiaowan River Village under Ning'an County in life, and once served in the Ning'an County Magistrate's Office. Because I was kind-hearted and dutiful in life, at the end of my years, I was promoted by the County Town God to Day Patrol Emissary. It has been twenty-two years now!"

Ji Yuan looked at the face beneath the emissary's hat, which seemed middle-aged, but his heart was far from calm.

Damn, that means this Day Patrol is probably much older than my grandpa...

"Liu Day Patrol suppressed the wicked and protected the good in life, and after death, you guard this region—dutiful in both the yin and yang realms. Truly admirable!"

Though these words contained some deliberate flattery on Ji Yuan's part, most of it came from True Heart, Sincere Intent.

Officials like the Day Patrol Emissary deserved respect anywhere, especially in this ancient setting.

"Mister Ji flatters me, flatters me!"

Though he said this, Ji Yuan could tell the Day Patrol Emissary was quite pleased.

A word of praise and recognition brought no material gain, but it could make a good person—no, a good ghost—happy.

The atmosphere shed its earlier awkwardness and became harmonious. Ji Yuan was walking along when suddenly his heart stirred. He glanced at a corner ahead in the alley, smiled, and continued chatting with the Day Patrol Emissary as they walked.

Some distance ahead, Little Yin Qing's heart pounded wildly as his bare feet sprinted without stopping.

Too scary, too scary—that Great Mister was walking along as if chatting with someone, probably talking to a ghost!

The ghost from Ju'an Pavilion had followed this Great Mister out!