Back from the Dead

The aura of a supervisor?

Xu Qi'an was stunned for a moment, and before he could ask a question, Yang Qianhuan's figure disappeared from his sight. Then, the desolate bird calls outside disappeared.

Then, the white-robed Warlock's figure returned to the cabin. He still had his back to Xu Qi'an, but his head was down, as if he was examining something in his palm.

"My teacher brought me a pill to help me shed my skin." Yang Qianhuan's voice was filled with confusion and bewilderment.

"A pill for rebirth?" Xu Qi'an asked back.

"Oh, do you know the story of a butterfly emerging from its cocoon?" Yang Qianhuan said.

"The transformation from cocoon to butterfly isn't a classic story; it's an old, tired trope, as familiar as the little tales about rain after the storm. Senior Brother Yang, please get to the point." Xu Qi'an waved his hand, interrupting Yang Qianhuan's pretentious act.

Yang Qianhuan's pretentiousness was both awkward and boring.

"Oh, oh." Yang Qianhuan didn't mind. He was actually a straightforward and gentle person, without the arrogance and airs of those high-level experts. He just liked to show off a little.

"The main ingredient of the Rebirth Pill is the pupa of the Nine-winged Golden Butterfly, which is refined into a pill using a secret recipe. Taking it can prolong life and transform one's body."

"The transformation is no exaggeration. After taking this medicine, one will enter a deep sleep within half an hour, like a silkworm spinning its cocoon. All life force in the body will be suppressed, and the person will be in a state of suspended animation, even the Primordial Spirit will perish."

"In this process, the old body, like a cocoon, nurtures a new body. Hence the name 'Rebirth Pill.' However, this medicine is a life-saving elixir; it should only be taken when the body has suffered severe damage and is on the verge of death."

"Does taking this pill mean I'm a virgin again?" Xu Qi'an asked in surprise. "Is it that powerful?"

"It's as amazing as it sounds, but it's not very practical." Yang Qianhuan shook his head. "Those who can kill me won't give me the chance to take the Rebirth Pill. High-level martial artists always fight to the death."

"Then should we take it as usual?" Xu Qi'an asked.

"It only prolongs life and improves physical condition, which is not bad, but compared to its high cost of refining, it seems rather useless. In sixty years, my teacher has only refined one batch, three pills."

Xu Qi'an nodded in realization. The pill wasn't very useful, and he asked, puzzled, "Why did the Supervisor send you this?"

After he finished speaking, Xu Qi'an was stunned.

Yang Qianhuan was also stunned.

The two remained silent for a long while, then said in unison:

"It's not for me, is it?"

"Is it for you?"

Another silence fell.

My teacher sent me to Yunzhou to look after Xu Qi'an, and now they've sent me a Rebirth Pill. But I have absolutely no use for it. Even a low-level Warlock like Caiwei wouldn't need it. If it's not for Xu Qi'an, who else could it be for?

Just then, Xu Qi'an was brought back from the dead, and just as he was wondering how to explain the reason, the Rebirth Pill was delivered to him.

Yang Qianhuan's mind raced with thoughts.

This Rebirth Pill is clearly tailor-made for me, perfectly solving my current predicament, while Senior Brother Yang has absolutely no need for such a pill. But how did the Supervisor know I needed the Rebirth Pill?

He knows my current situation, knows I've come back from the dead? Then, the supervisor probably also knows that the monk Shenshu's severed arm is inside me?

In that instant, Xu Qi'an's mind raced, and numerous details of the Sangbo case flashed through his mind.

Demon Race lurk within the Imperial Academy of Music), but the supervisor turns a blind eye.

The monk Shenshu escaped from Sangbo with his severed arm, while the supervisor feigned illness and stood by and watched.

Heng Hui went on a killing spree in the capital, wiping out the Pingyuan Marquis's mansion. Although he possessed a magical Law Artifact that shielded his aura, could it really conceal him from a first-rank Warlock like the Supervisor?

The remnants of the Kingdom of Ten Thousand Demons released the severed arm of the monk Shenshu, but secretly sent it to my residence, allowing it to parasitize me and nurture the severed arm. This means that only I in the capital can nurture the monk Shenshu, and my greatest secret is my strange luck.

In other words, the Demon Race knows about my strangeness, but in my entire life, apart from fighting a reptile and a gray fox, I haven't had much contact with the Demon Race.

Etc!

The supervisor knew about my strangeness; he gave me a black gold longsword and, through a secret means, also taught me the ultimate martial art, "Heaven and Earth One-Sword Slash." Holy crap, that's terrifying to think about.

Two guesses surfaced in his mind: First, the Supervisor was colluding with the Demon Race. Second, the Supervisor knew about the Demon Race's plot but chose to stand by for some reason.

Xu Qi'an leaned more towards the first guess, because if the supervisor hadn't revealed the secret within him to the Demon Race, how would the Demon Race have known about his special nature? He himself had never had any close contact with the Demon Race.

If Xu Qi'an would be grateful for Wei Yuan's gift and accept it without hesitation, then the gift from the Supervisor... to use a popular phrase these days:

Every gift bestowed by fate has already had a price tag attached in secret.

Yang Qianhuan flicked her finger, and the Rebirth Pill landed in Xu Qi'an's arms. "Take this, and you can return to the capital in peace. If anyone asks, just say that this is a pill given to you by the Bureau of Astronomy. You knew that your life was uncertain, so you took the Rebirth Pill in advance."

"Then the drug took effect, and you entered a state of complete transformation, akin to death. Governor Zhang and others thought you had died in battle, but in reality you had simply entered a deep sleep."

"This is the best solution at the moment. Please thank the Supervisor for me." Xu Qi'an picked up the translucent orange-yellow Rebirth Pill, held it in his palm, but didn't take it. Instead, he took out several letters and smiled:

"He'll probably sleep all the way to Beijing. The clever playboy will never allow himself to become socially dead."

After a pause, Xu Qi'an added, "At least we can't die a second time."

After saying that, his aura surged, and the letter shattered into countless pieces.

The official boat navigated through the snow, breaking through thin ice, and slowly sailed towards the capital.

At 9:00 AM, the snow that had been falling for a day and a night finally stopped.

His Highness the Crown Prince, draped in a fox fur cloak, walked through the magnificent snow-covered landscape. He was handsome and tall, with an exceptionally good appearance.

Although Xu Qi'an once thought that none of Emperor Yuanjing's sons were capable fighters, Xu Dalang's benchmark was not himself, but his little brother Xu Erlang.

But actually, the Crown Prince is a very handsome man. Emperor Yuanjing was very handsome when he was young, and Consort Chen was a stunning beauty. That's how they had such a beautiful daughter as Biao Biao. As her elder brother, the Crown Prince naturally wouldn't be much less handsome.

Upon arriving at Consort Chen's palace, the Crown Prince untied his fox fur coat and handed it to the welcoming palace maid.

Upon entering the room, it was warm and cozy, with a pleasant fragrance filling the air.

Consort Chen, accompanied by two palace maids, greeted them with a smile, "Why didn't Lin'an come?"

The crown prince waved his hand, took his seat, and began drinking and eating with the help of palace maids.

"Hmm, this wine tastes good."

The Crown Prince asked in surprise.

"This is a Hundred-Day Spring wine sent by Her Majesty the Empress. It's nourishing and good for your health. Please drink more." Consort Chen smiled kindly and instructed the palace maids to pour the wine.

The mother and son chatted and laughed while eating, creating a harmonious atmosphere.

Because Emperor Yuanjing was obsessed with cultivating immortality and had no interest in women, the harem had long been stagnant, lonely, and boring. Even if the empresses wanted to engage in palace intrigue, they couldn't find a reason to start one.

Therefore, the Crown Prince and Lin'an often visited his mother, keeping her company with meals and conversation to alleviate her loneliness.

"Is Lin'an unwell? The person I sent to fetch her reported back that Lin'an is hiding in her room and refusing to see anyone." Consort Chen frowned slightly.

"Her..." the Crown Prince sighed, "Mother, do you think Lin'an is also of marriageable age?"

Consort Chen was taken aback, then nodded helplessly. "His Majesty is obsessed with Daoist cultivation and doesn't care about your marriages at all. As the Empress, she lives a secluded life and doesn't even care about the Fourth Prince and Huaiqing's affairs, let alone Lin'an."

The crown prince chewed his food and nodded. "I think it's best to marry Lin'an off as soon as possible."

Consort Chen scrutinized the Crown Prince, frowning as she asked, "Why does Your Highness say such a thing?"

The crown prince did not answer, and silently drank his wine.

He was absolutely certain that Lin'an had developed some feelings for that gong. At the age when young girls are in love, and Lin'an being the kind of spoiled and willful girl who is actually simple-minded, she is most easily deceived in matters of the heart.

No one dared to get close to her normally, so nothing unusual happened until now.

Once a man who is to her liking appears, those feelings will sprout and grow strong.

Lin'an's recent melancholy is evidence of this.

Fortunately, the gong-wielding woman had already died in the line of duty, but the crown prince also realized that Lin'an had reached the age to get married.

"Drink less, drink less," Consort Chen advised, frowning.

Lost in thought and worried about his younger sister's love life, His Highness the Crown Prince unknowingly drank too much, and he felt a burning sensation in his lower abdomen.

The pretty palace maids around them now seemed alluring.

"Mother, I'll be going back now." The Crown Prince hiccuped, stood up, and took his leave.

A cold front swept in, the outdoor air was fresh, and the prince felt much more comfortable as the cold wind blew.

He returned with his guards. On the way, he saw a palace maid waiting by the roadside. Upon seeing the Crown Prince and his entourage, she immediately approached and bowed, saying:

"Your Highness, Consort Fu requests your presence for a chat."

Shaoyin Palace.

Biao Biao pushed open the window, and in her view, the entire courtyard was covered in pure white snow, pristine and flawless.

Her eyes were red and swollen like peaches; she had been reading the letter her lackey had sent, and then she started crying again.

The letter's wording, a mix of seriousness and playful humor, conjures up the image of the lackey's voice and smile in one's mind as one reads it.

But Lin'an knew that he would never see that smile again. That person had died in Yunzhou, and he would lie in a cold coffin, drifting thousands of miles away, quietly and silently returning to the capital.

What saddened her even more was that, as a princess, she couldn't even attend his funeral.

The cold wind blew on her face, chilling her to the bone. She reached up and touched her face, only to find tears welling up again.

"What are you crying for? It's just a dead dog servant! It's just a dead dog servant!" Biao Biao angrily wiped away her tears, but the more she wiped, the more tears she shed.

"Your Highness, Your Highness"

An anxious shout came from outside, and Lin'an's personal maid burst open the door with a bang.

Her face was blue from the cold wind, and her thick cotton shoes were covered with dirty water stains and snow.

Lin'an quickly turned away, frantically wiping away her tears, but the maid's next words stunned her.

"His Highness the Crown Prince has been imprisoned."

Like a bolt from the blue, Lin'an cried out in shock, "What?!"

The Imperial Study.

Emperor Yuanjing sat high on the dragon throne with a gloomy expression. The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, Wei Yuan, and the Minister of Ministry of Justice stood in the hall. The three men represented the three highest judicial authorities of the Great Feng.

Wei Yuan was the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate.

"Your Majesty, this is the report provided by the coroner. Please take a look." The Minister of Ministry of Justice handed over the autopsy report on Consort Fu.

The chief eunuch took the autopsy report and handed it to Emperor Yuanjing, who merely glanced at it and asked expressionlessly:

Was Consort Fu defiled?

"This..." the Minister of Ministry of Justice said in a low voice, "The coroner only conducted a cursory examination and dared not disturb Consort Fu's body. Your Majesty, please have the old palace maids examine it."

Emperor Yuanjing asked in a deep voice, "Where is that beast?"

"His Highness the Crown Prince has been confined to his palace, awaiting His Majesty's decision."

"Send them to the Dali Temple." Emperor Yuanjing swept his sharp gaze over the three men. "I need a result within three days."

"Your Majesty, this matter is of great importance; I'm afraid three days is not enough," said the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.

"I will only give you three days," Emperor Yuanjing said coldly.

"Your Majesty, Duke Wei has many talented subordinates who have solved numerous major cases. Why not transfer this case to the Censorate?" the Minister of Ministry of Justice suggested.

The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review thought it was excellent.

"With so many talented people, who is the Minister referring to?" Wei Yuan calmly glanced at the two ministers, then looked at Emperor Yuanjing: "The capable ones have already died in the line of duty in Yunzhou."

The Minister of Ministry of Justice and the Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review exchanged a glance. The gong that had solved so many strange cases had been broken in Yunzhou. Just a few days ago, the two of them had secretly praised it.

Now that the person who was shifting the blame is gone, the Minister of Ministry of Justice and the Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review suddenly felt a bit conflicted.

Consort Fu died, allegedly after being humiliated by the Crown Prince. Overwhelmed with shame and indignation, she jumped from the pavilion, crashing through the railing and dying.

The case unfolded as follows: This afternoon, the Crown Prince returned from drinking at Consort Chen's residence and somehow ended up at Consort Fu's palace.

Then came the incident where Consort Fu, disheveled, fell to her death from a building.

This matter not only concerns the face of the royal family, but if the Crown Prince's crime is confirmed, it will involve a struggle for the very foundation of the state. The interests involved are too complex, and neither the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review nor the Ministry of Justice is willing to take on this hot potato.

Emperor Yuanjing frowned. He knew Wei Yuan was referring to Xu Qi'an, the gong who died in Yunzhou. He usually just found the gong an eyesore and annoying.

But when a case came up, Emperor Yuanjing suddenly realized that the bronze gong actually had a great function. It was such a pity that it died.

"Bang!"

Emperor Yuanjing slammed his fist on the table and roared, "My Great Feng is full of talented people. Does the absence of even one gong mean we can't solve a case?"

"Your Majesty, please forgive me."

The three ministers bowed simultaneously.

At this moment, a eunuch hurriedly arrived outside the imperial study, bowing his head without crossing the threshold.

This indicates that something is happening outside. Emperor Yuanjing's position is directly facing the door, so he can see the eunuchs, but whether or not to summon them is up to Emperor Yuanjing.

"What's going on outside?" Emperor Yuanjing's tone revealed suppressed anger.

The head eunuch quickly beckoned the eunuch outside the door to come in.

"Your Majesty, Princess Lin'an requests an audience," the eunuch reported.

Princess Lin'an's visit at this moment is undoubtedly about the Crown Prince.

Emperor Yuanjing rubbed his temples. "Let her go back. I won't see her for the next few days."

The eunuch received the order and went out. He arrived at the foot of the high steps outside the imperial study. Lin'an, wearing a red fox fur cloak, with a round face and a charming and amorous temperament, waited anxiously.

She was accompanied by two personal maids.

"Second Princess, His Majesty refuses to see you. You should return home," the eunuch whispered.

Lin'an bit her lip, stubbornly refusing to leave.

She waited and waited outside the Imperial Study. Before long, the top officials of the Three Judicial Offices emerged, the Minister of Ministry of Justice exclaiming, "Oh dear!"

"Your Highness, it's freezing cold. Please don't be stubborn. Take care of your precious health and don't catch a cold."

The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review chimed in, "The coldest time is when the snow melts; your health can't withstand the cold. What are you two standing there for? Quickly take His Highness back."

Lin'an shook his head, refusing to leave.

The two palace maids were caught in a dilemma.

Wei Yuan wrapped his robe tighter around himself and walked up to Lin'an. Her nose was red from the cold, but because of her fair skin, it had a rosy tint, making her look rather cute.

The man in blue robes said gently, "I have a few questions for Your Highness."

Wei Yuan was one of the very few powerful ministers who dared to refer to himself as "I" in front of the royal family and nobility.

Lin'an's slightly dazed eyes flickered. "Duke Wei, please speak."

"Did the princess and the crown prince frequently visit Consort Chen?"

"My elder brother, the Crown Prince, and I often visit our mother." Lin'an sniffed.

"Do you also drink alcohol?"

"Have."

"Do you often get drunk?"

"Not much, but the Crown Prince did drink a bit too much."

"Has the Crown Prince had any dealings with Consort Fu in the past? Does he often wander around other parts of the inner palace?"

"Of course not," Lin'an said loudly. "My brother, the Crown Prince, knows he is not the legitimate son and has always acted cautiously. How could he possibly do such a treasonous thing?"

Wei Yuan bowed, then turned and left.

The Minister of Ministry of Justice and the Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review followed them.

A cold wind howled, and Lin'an shivered, biting her lip. Her shoulders were thin, and her red dress was as red as fire against the white snow, creating a beautiful yet desolate scene.

They waited for two hours.

His body gradually froze, his legs lost all feeling, his lips turned blue, and Lin'an's heart seemed to freeze as well.

"Why are you still here?" A familiar voice came from behind.

She stiffly twisted her neck and looked back; it was the annoying Huaiqing.

Huaiqing wore a beautiful white palace dress embroidered with vibrant plum blossoms. Her breasts were full and her waist was slender. Her cool and aloof temperament blended perfectly with the pure white snow.

She seemed like an ethereal fairy, untouched by worldly concerns.

Although there was no bronze mirror, Biao Biao knew she was like a pitiful quail shivering in the cold wind.

The difference in quality is immediately apparent.

"Are you here to laugh at me?" Biao Biao turned her head away, feeling wronged, trying not to let her tears fall.

Huaiqing's expression was cold as he looked at the two palace maids and said, "How have you served His Highness? Guards, drag them away and beat them to death."

"Here you go!"

The guards behind Huaiqing immediately stepped forward.

"Stop!" Lin'an turned around abruptly, intending to stop them, but she overestimated herself. Her legs were stiff with cold, and she stumbled and fell to the ground.

Lin'an was greatly alarmed and cried out, "Huaiqing, how dare you kill my men?"

Huaiqing walked over, looked down at her, and said indifferently, "A derelict palace maid, even if I kill her right now, my father won't say a word against me."

"I'll give you two choices: either stay standing here—I can't be bothered with you, but I'm going to chop you up—or get back here and stop making a fool of yourself."

With the help of palace maids, Biao Biao stood up. Perhaps out of a sense of defiance towards Huai Qing, she wiped away her tears, pushed aside the two maids, and stared at Huai Qing:

"I don't believe my brother, the Crown Prince, would do such a thing."

"What does it have to do with me?" Huaiqing said coldly.

Biao Biao choked, bit her lip, and staggered forward. After a few steps, she stopped, didn't turn back, and said unwillingly:

"If he were still alive, he could surely clear my brother, the Crown Prince's name."

The woman in red stumbled away.

As Princess Huaiqing watched Lin'an's figure recede into the distance, she let out a sigh of relief.

"Your Highness, the Second Princess is ungrateful; why bother?"

The head guard said helplessly.

"Do I need her gratitude?" Huaiqing sneered.

"Your Majesty is truly heartless, making the Second Princess stand outside for so long," the head guard said.

Huaiqing's eyes suddenly sharpened. "Go back and slap yourself fifty times."

The captain of the guard suddenly realized what he had done, and a layer of cold sweat seeped down his back in the dead of winter. "This subordinate deserves to die."

When the snow melted, the official boat carrying the remains of the Nightwatchers had died in the line of duty arrived at the customs post outside the capital. After inspection, it sailed down the canal into the capital and docked at the capital's wharf.

The three men on the official boat unloaded the coffins containing the bodies of their colleagues, and hired several cargo carts and porters.

Yinluo Minshan squinted as he stood on the dock, gazing at the still bustling capital city. A sense of melancholy welled up in his heart, a feeling of things changing and people being no longer the same.

Having come and gone from Yunzhou, I've lost several more old friends.

The changes of fortune and misfortune in the world, the shifting of fate, leave people helpless.

Returning to the yamen, he handed over the five coffins to the department that received those who had died in the line of duty. Yinluo Minshan went into a side hall and poured himself a cup of hot water.

Inside the inner room where the coffin was kept, several officials pushed open the coffin, and a faint smell of decay wafted out.

The freezing weather helped preserve the body relatively well, but it still began to decompose.

The officials, accustomed to seeing corpses, took exorcising pills and put on handkerchiefs to cover their mouths and noses. While verifying the identities of the victims, they chatted idly.

"The loss of three silver gongs is truly devastating."

"Yunzhou has rebelled, so this is already a minor loss. It's just a pity about Xu Tongluo."

"Yes, although he'd only been with the office for a few months, he was already a prominent figure in the department. Everyone knew that Duke Wei valued him, and yet he left just like that."

"Hey, what do you think the courtesans of the Imperial Academy of Music will do when they find out about Xu Tongluo's death?"

"What sense of loyalty or affection can women in brothels have?"

"But Fuxiang is Xu Tongluo's lover."

"Why do you even know that Fuxiang is Xu Tongluo's lover?"

"Who in the capital doesn't know him?"

"Hey, Xu Tongluo's body is the best preserved; the stench is barely noticeable."

"Let me see, oh dear, the skin broke as soon as it was rubbed. Put it back on, put it back on."

After an incense stick had burned, the clerk, having washed his hands and face, found Min Shan and said, "Min Yinluo, the number of belongings matches the list. Your identity has been verified. You may leave."

Min Shan nodded slightly, then turned and left.

Haoqi Tower.

The sound of footsteps approached, and a clerk in black went upstairs, whispered a few words to his colleague waiting outside, and then turned and went downstairs.

The clerk on duty outside came in and respectfully reported, "Duke Wei, the official ship from Yunzhou has arrived. The remains of three silver-ranked officials and two bronze-ranked officials have been sent back to the yamen, their identities verified, and there are no discrepancies."

Wei Yuan looked up, remained silent for a moment, then nodded and said, "Deliver them to your respective relatives."

He didn't mention the relics, even though he knew the fragments of the Earth Book were with Xu Qi'an.

Star-Gazing Tower, Eight Trigrams Platform.

A figure in white appeared on the stage, accompanied by a clear and melodious recitation. "Holding the bright moon in hand, plucking stars from the sky, the world..."

The sound suddenly caught in my throat, and I couldn't utter a word.

A few seconds later, Yang Qianhuan said weakly, "Teacher, I'm back."

"Hmm." The supervisor did not turn around.

The master and apprentice stood back to back, without embracing.

"Xu Qi'an has returned to the capital safely. His trip to Yunzhou was fraught with danger but ultimately safe." After Yang Qianhuan finished speaking, seeing that the supervisor did not speak, she asked:

"What exactly happened to Xu Qi'an? How could he come back to life? Why do you value him so much?"

"Furthermore, there is actually a third-rank Warlock in Yunzhou. Hmm, at least a third-rank. But apart from our Bureau of Astronomy, where else in the world can we Warlock of this caliber?"

The supervisor chuckled and said, "You don't need to concern yourself with Xu Qi'an's matter; I will make the decision myself."

"Caiwei Sister Caiwei is right, you're a wicked old man," Yang Qianhuan thought to himself.

"As for that fellow from Yunzhou, you don't need to worry about him. Even if I tell you, you won't hear me," the supervisor said.

Just as Yang Qianhuan was about to leave, the supervisor's helpless voice came from behind. "Release Song Qing for your master."

"What has Song Qing done this time?"

"He became a human being."

"..." Yang Qianhuan clicked her tongue in amazement. "To have developed Alchemy to such a level, Song Qing is truly the first person in history to achieve this."

Then, he criticized, "However, his character flaws are too great; he's stubborn and unwilling to be promoted."

"And what makes you any better?" The supervisor's lips twitched.

"Keep a close eye on him for me, and don't let him do anything foolish again. Your fifth junior sister will be out of seclusion in a few days. The second brother isn't in the capital, so please take good care of your junior brothers and sisters," the supervisor said.

"Fifth Junior Sister has emerged from seclusion? She, like me, has successfully advanced to the fourth rank and become Formation Master?" Yang Qianhuan asked in surprise.

"Shangyuan."

"If that's the case, is Fifth Brother risking his life?" Yang Qianhuan was taken aback.

"Her opportunity for promotion has arrived," the supervisor said meaningfully.

The Xu Residence.

A white banner for summoning the dead hung above the main gate, and the red lanterns were replaced with white ones.

After receiving the condolence money, the Xu Residence began to arrange the funeral, but they did not know the exact time when the Dalang's remains would be sent back to the capital, so the people in the mansion had not yet put on their mourning clothes.

These past few days, the atmosphere in the manor has been very heavy. The master has become taciturn, the mistress often sheds tears, and Erlang tries to remain calm but often stares blankly into space. Miss Lingyue has lost all her energy. Miss Lingyin has become so thin that her face is almost oval.

For the first two days, the little one often woke up crying in the middle of the night, shouting that he wanted to find his older brother.

A child's world is very small, consisting of just a few family members. If one of them is suddenly gone, the world becomes incomplete.

That morning, the Xu Residence finally received the remains of their Dalang. He lay in a coffin and was transported back to the mansion by a cart.

Upon receiving the news, Xu Pingzhi rushed out the door like a madman, but when he saw the coffin on the cart, he suddenly dared not approach.

Xu Pingzhi walked to the coffin, reached out, and pressed down on the coffin lid.

The man in charge of delivering the remains glanced at him and whispered, "Lord Xu, let's go inside first."

Xu Pingzhi snapped out of his daze, took a deep breath, and hummed in response.

Once they see Dalang's remains, the family will probably be overwhelmed. There will be mourning at the gate, which is disrespectful for both the living and the dead.

When the coffin was brought to the mourning hall, the atmosphere there made the Nightwatchers feel suffocated. Unwilling to linger, he clasped his hands and said, "Lord Xu, I must take my leave now."

Xu Pingzhi responded hoarsely, "No need to see me out."

Inside the mourning hall, Aunt, Erlang, and the Xu Lingyue sisters silently gazed at the coffin, none of them uttering a sound, as if waiting for something.

Xu Pingzhi knew that as the head of the family, there were some things he had to do. For example, he had to be the first to face his nephew's remains and confront the overwhelming grief.

The coffin lid was slowly pushed open, and Xu Qi'an lay inside. His skin was dry and dull, and his lips had lost their color.

He has been dead for a long time.

The last glimmer of hope in their hearts shattered. Despite having prepared themselves mentally, the overwhelming grief still engulfed the entire family at that moment.

Aunt and Xu Lingyue wailed as they supported the coffin. Second Uncle Xu was unsteady on his feet, his lips trembling. Xu Erlang turned his head away, refusing to look at his elder brother's remains, his hands clenched into fists inside his sleeves, his knuckles white.

Xu Lingyin leaned forward slightly, craning her neck, and opened her hands behind her back, letting out a loud "Awooo!" sound towards the coffin.

"It's so noisy, who the hell is disturbing my sleep?" Xu Qi'an said with a sigh.

He felt as if he were floating in the boundless void, neither above nor below, with nothing to rely on. All he could hear was the cacophony of weeping.

I must be home. Is that my aunt crying? Ha, my aunt is actually crying for me? Isn't her catchphrase. "Xu Ningyan, you little brat, you're my nemesis from a past life, the one I'm here to collect my debt in this one? "Xu Qi'an thought dazedly.

He could distinguish the cries from his aunt and two younger sisters.

The crying lasted for a long time, then turned into sobs, and finally into quiet sneezing.

Time passed, and darkness fell.

Xu Qi'an learned this from a conversation between his second uncle and Erlang.

Xu Household's relatives and friends will be able to pay their respects to Xu Dalang's remains tomorrow; tonight, his family will keep vigil for him.

This must be the second time I've died. The first time was from alcohol poisoning, damn it. I didn't delete my 120GB wife. It's embarrassing to think about. Luckily, there are no computers or cell phones in this world. Oh, but there are brothels and Imperial Academy of Music in this world, so my wife on the hard drive is useless.

Tomorrow the whole village is coming to my house for dinner. Huaiqing and Lin'an are princesses, their status makes it inconvenient, so they probably can't come. Caiwei is definitely coming; if she doesn't, I'll get a divorce as soon as I wake up. Will Fuxiang come? Oh, she probably doesn't know about my "death" yet.

"Mother, you should go back to your room and rest. My second brother and I will stay here to keep vigil for my eldest brother," Xu Lingyue, her voice choked with sobs.

Then my aunt spoke up, "Your eldest brother has been adrift on the river for so long. Now that he's home, we can't let him be all alone anymore. Mother is fine; I'll stay here and watch over him."

"When your father handed him over to me, he was only the size of a palm. I had no experience taking care of a child back then. Your father was just a soldier, and he didn't have much money, so he couldn't afford a wet nurse. I just boiled goat milk for him to drink and took care of him day after day in a flurry of activity."

At this point, the aunt was overcome with grief.

Xu Qi'an suddenly realized that his aunt actually loved him, even though the two of them had a very strained and unpleasant falling out later.

Xu Qi'an was somewhat moved.

"The older he gets, the more annoying he becomes. Of the three of you, he's the ugliest and the most troublesome. Whenever I show concern for you or Erlang, he gets jealous and thinks that I treat him badly and that he's a motherless child."

"Stop talking!" Second Uncle Xu said angrily.

"Why can't I say it?" the aunt shrieked. "I raised him with my own hands, and now he's gone just like that. I should have just raised a mouse!"

She burst into tears.

"Master, Madam!" Old Zhang, the gatekeeper, rushed over and stood outside the mourning hall, saying, "A young lady has come and says she wants to keep vigil for the Dalang."

who?

This question flashed through Xu Qi'an's mind, as did that of his second uncle and aunt.

"She said her name was Fuxiang," said Old Zhang, the doorman.

Second Uncle Xu and Xu Dalang's faces darkened simultaneously.

Xu Qi'an, a man of integrity who doesn't frequent brothels, Xu Erlang Xu Pingzhi, a devoted husband who loves his family. Xu Qi'an smiled bitterly to himself.

Second Uncle Xu glanced at his wife and nodded slightly. "I'll go outside to see her."

The aunt watched her husband's retreating figure, wiped away her tears, and asked her son beside her, "Erlang, who is that Fuxiang?"

Judging from her name alone, she doesn't seem to come from a respectable family.

Xu Erlang, his voice thick with nasal congestion, said, "Fuxiang is the most beautiful courtesan in the Imperial Academy of Music, and it is said that she greatly admires your poetic talent, elder brother."

The intelligent and virtuous Xu Lingyue frowned. Coming to her door so late at night, and wanting to keep vigil for her elder brother, their relationship must be extraordinary.

Second Uncle Xu saw Fuxiang in the front hall. She was dressed in a white dress and had a small white flower in her hair, a very simple outfit.

The moment Second Uncle Xu saw Fuxiang, his anger suddenly dissipated, because the woman's expression was sorrowful, her eyes were red-rimmed, and the sadness between her brows was genuine.

"Miss Fuxiang, what brings you here so late at night?" Second Uncle Xu asked in a deep voice.

"Lord Xu, I wish to keep vigil for Master Xu," Fuxiang said, rising to bow.

"That's not appropriate," Second Uncle Xu refused on the spot.

Although the Xu Household is not a scholarly family, they are still a respectable family with rules and etiquette. Fuxiang has no official status or position, so why should she keep vigil for the Dalang?

"When I entered the manor, I sent away the attendants from the Imperial Academy of Music). I can't go back to the inner city now, and it's not safe to go to the outer city. If Lord Xu insists on sending me away, then I will leave," Fuxiang said softly.

Xu Pingzhi sighed; this woman truly had deep feelings for Dalang.

Upon arriving at the mourning hall and seeing Xu Qi'an's remains, Fuxiang, who had been trying to remain calm, finally broke down. She had just received news from the Imperial Academy of Music that day that Xu Qi'an had died in the line of duty.

She fainted on the spot, and after waking up, she cried for a long time, intending to come and see Xu Qi'an off on his final journey.

Hearing Fuxiang's mournful cries, Xu Lingyue suddenly realized the relationship between this woman and her elder brother.

Fuxiang did not stay at the Xu Residence to keep vigil; she left very sensibly. Xu Pingzhi originally wanted her to stay at the residence overnight, but he did not expect that what Fuxiang had just said was a lie. How could the Imperial Academy of Music (a government-run entertainment institution) let a courtesan out of their sight?

Fuxiang said that because she was afraid the Xu Household wouldn't agree to her seeing Xu Qi'an one last time.

The next day, Xu Household's relatives and friends came to pay their respects.

Xu Qi'an's grandfather's lineage only had two sons. The old man of the Xu Household died on the battlefield twenty years ago, and now his son has also died in the line of duty, thus ending the line of this family.

The Xu Lineage members sighed with regret.

Besides the Xu Lineage members, Xu Qi'an's former superiors, County Magistrate Zhu of Changle County and Head Constable Wang, along with a group of quick-witted individuals, also arrived.

After viewing the remains, County Magistrate Zhu sighed, "Ningyan died young, what a pity, what a pity!"

Head Constable Wang and the others were filled with sorrow and sighs.

"I wonder if Ningyan left any last words?" County Magistrate Zhu asked.

Xu Pingzhi shook his head.

"If possible, I'd like to experience being a black coffin dancer," Xu Qi'an quipped humorously. His consciousness was gradually returning, but his body was still in a state of suspended animation.

"Miss Caiwei, what are you doing?"

Suddenly, Xu Erlang's angry voice rang out.

Then came Chu Caiwei's voice. "I... I just wanted to confirm."

Her voice sounded somewhat sad.

Jinluo Nangong Qianrou and Zhang Kaitai also held a memorial service. While viewing the remains, Old Zhang sighed and said, "Such a gifted person died young. It's understandable that Duke Wei was in low spirits recently."

Zhang Kaitai was one of the few Jinluo who knew Xu Qi'an's qualifications.

"Bad guy."

Xu Lingyin roared at Nangong Qianrou, and was quickly taken away by Lü'e.

At this moment, Xu Qi'an suddenly heard a cry of surprise, "This humble servant greets Princess Huaiqing."

The mourning hall was silent for a moment, then shouts of "Greetings, Princess!" rose and fell.

The Xu clan was stunned. What was going on? A princess of the imperial court had actually attended Xu Dalang's funeral?

At this moment, the Xu clan felt an unprecedented sense of grief. It turned out that the Dalang even knew the princess. If he hadn't met with this accident, he would surely have risen to great heights in the future.

The Xu family might become a prominent clan in the capital, bringing glory to their ancestors and elevating the entire clan to prominence.

Biao Biao didn't come. Hmm, she's like a caged canary, not as free as Huai Qing.

My lotus maiden, now I have gathered three of them at once.

Xu Dalang inexplicably recalled a joke he had read in his previous life: A rich second-generation heir died unexpectedly. On the day of his funeral, all his girlfriends came. One had had an abortion for him; another was pregnant with his child; one was eighteen years old and had been with him for three years; and the last one had abandoned her husband and children for him.

Gradually, the funeral turned into a denunciation meeting for the rich second generation.

Fortunately, the rich kid really is dead.

"Please don't talk about the letter, otherwise there'll be no point in me coming back to life," Xu Qi'an thought anxiously.

What you fear most is what happens.

Chu Caiwei was somewhat saddened. "When he was in Qingzhou, he wrote me a letter, telling me about the local delicacies. After reading the letter, I was so angry that I wanted to stab him to death with chopsticks, but I never thought he would actually die."

Upon hearing this, Xu Lingyue looked up in surprise, sniffled her red nose, and choked out, "My older brother wrote one for me too."

Huaiqing said calmly, "I received it too."

After she finished speaking, the three women fell silent.

Xu Qi'an: "."

Huaiqing's heart skipped a beat, his eyes flickered slightly, and he asked, "Then did he..."

Just then, a mournful meow came from inside and outside the mourning hall, attracting the attention of everyone.

An orange cat with its tail held high weaved through the crowd into the mourning hall and pounced on Xu Qi'an's coffin.

A member of the Xu clan exclaimed, "Quickly stop the cat! If a cat jumps on the dead, it might come back to life!"

The other members of the Xu clan changed their expressions drastically.

Those closest to Huaiqing and Lin'an, including Chu Caiwei, dismissed this claim and therefore did not immediately intervene.

Meow~

The orange cat flew over Xu Qi'an's head, letting out a piercing scream. A voice exploded in Xu Qi'an's mind. "Xu Qi'an, wake up!"

It was Daoist Jinlian who had arrived. Xu Qi'an's Primordial Spirit trembled, and he felt his soul and body begin to merge and harmonize.

The next moment, he regained consciousness and felt a sense of security in control of his body again.

He felt an itch on his face, so he raised his hand and scratched off a large piece of dried flesh.

Xu Qi'an was overjoyed to be able to move and sat up from the coffin.

A deathly silence fell over the mourning hall, both inside and out.

Get up, get up, you're up?!

To everyone present, this scene was both shocking and terrifying.

"Oh my god! It really came back to life!!!"

Someone screamed.

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