The fourth day of the fourth month, during the Qingming season.
Chang Ming packed her belongings and prepared to descend the mountain.
Yu Nu circled around the Soul Summoning Umbrella. "Master, why are you taking this umbrella?"
Chang Ming explained, "Because the space between Yun Yichu's brows has turned dark. I'm afraid he'll die too young, and then he won't be able to afford those ten years of lifespan."
Jin Tong cut in, "I never thought Master would have a moment of bodhisattva-like compassion."
Chang Ming grabbed Jin Tong by the head. "Still think I have a bodhisattva's heart?"
Jin Tong cried out, "I don't dare, I don't dare, I won't ever dare again!"
Yu Nu mused worriedly from the side, "Master, I noticed that day you seemed to be... striking Young Master Yun?"
Chang Ming nodded. "Yes."
"Yu Nu, you have keen eyes. Much more promising than Jin Tong."
As she spoke, she pulled out the Qiankun Pouch and stuffed all manner of large and small odds and ends inside.
"That day when I looked through the Hundred Family Register, the Yun family's entry was nearly erased entirely."
"If I'm not mistaken, it should be due to interference from the Six-Child Copper Coins."
"As for Yun Yichu, he pawned ten years of his lifespan to me. You could say he's getting quite the bargain."
"But one cannot simply take advantage. He is on a divergent path; if I offer him some guidance, it won't have been in vain that he came to my shop."
Yu Nu helped Chang Ming tie the Qiankun Pouch. "Master, just what are those Six-Child Copper Coins anyway?"
"How could they interfere with the fate of mortals?"
"Something like this would incur heavenly punishment."
Chang Ming scratched her head. "I'm not clear on the exact reasons behind it."
"But if I remember correctly, the Six-Child Copper Coins should be a primordial supreme treasure belonging to some great demon of the Underworld."
"Perhaps that great demon's allotted fate ran out. After passing on, the item was left behind in the mortal realm."
"A heavenly spiritual artifact, combined with the quality of a primordial supreme treasure, gave birth to an artifact spirit."
"In the process of repaying a debt of gratitude, it inadvertently interfered with the fate of the mortal world."
"I'll only know the specifics after I make a trip to the Yun family."
Jin Tong was somewhat reluctant to part with Chang Ming and tugged at her skirt. "Then Master, when will you return?"
Chang Ming thought for a moment. "The Yun family's affairs are complicated and tangled. I'm afraid it will take ten days to half a month."
She added further instructions, "You two must remember to guard the main gate well. Our Artifact Spirit Pawnshop holds countless treasures. Not a single one can go missing."
"Understood?"
Jin Tong and Yu Nu nodded repeatedly.
She left behind two spirit talismans for them.
After setting up a barrier formation, Chang Ming shouldered her bundle and floated out.
She cast one final glance at the pawnshop.
"This signboard looks a bit crooked."
"Never mind. I'll have someone fix it after I retrieve the coins."
Jade Mist Valley—the only path to the mortal realm.
Two minor ghost officers were tugging at an old man's soul.
"Old man, where did you come from?"
The ghost shook his head. "I don't know how I got here."
"Do you know the way to the Yun family?"
Chang Ming happened to be passing by. She listened in and quietly hid behind a rock.
The ghost officers interrogated the ghost, "Didn't your family hold funeral rites for you?"
"Didn't they guide your way?"
The ghost looked at himself. "I only took a nap, and then I arrived in this place."
"I'm not dead."
"I'm just lost."
"Two kind sirs, could you please help me and point me toward the Yun family?"
"My home has plenty of gold. Once I arrive, I will reward you handsomely."
The ghost officers' expressions gradually turned vicious. "Gold and silver are worldly possessions. We can't use them anyway."
"Since you're a wandering soul with no family."
"Why don't we just devour you?"
Hearing this, Chang Ming more or less understood the situation.
This soul was very likely Yun Yichu's grandfather, Yun Ruosheng.
She sighed inwardly, "The young man has gone astray after all."
Just as the ghost officers were about to consume the ghost, Chang Ming appeared in time.
She stuffed some paper money into their hands. "Two young sirs, this old man is from my hometown."
"He and I are both headed to the Yun family."
"Please, have mercy and let us pass."
The two ghost officers exchanged a glance, waved their hands, and allowed Chang Ming and Yun Ruosheng to pass.
But the moment the two turned around, a sinister wind rose. The ghost officers still intended to devour them.
Chang Ming's gaze turned fierce. A palm strike sliced through the air, annihilating the ghost officers.
For good measure, she absorbed their remnant souls as well.
Yun Ruosheng was terrified out of his wits by this scene and shouted, "Murder!"
"Murder!"
He ran forward without stopping.
Chang Ming flashed forward and seized him.
"Old man, don't be afraid. I'm a helper your grandson Yun Yichu sent for."
"Specifically here to aid you."
Yun Ruosheng was still frightened. "But you just killed someone."
Chang Ming chuckled lightly. "The strong prey on the weak—such is the law of heaven and earth. We're in the middle of nowhere. If you don't speak of it, who would know?"
Yun Ruosheng wanted to argue, but was frightened by Chang Ming's sharp gaze.
"If you dare keep shouting, I'll eat you too."
Yun Ruosheng immediately shut his mouth.
The two walked out of the wasteland in silence.
Only when they were about to enter the mortal realm did Yun Ruosheng slowly speak, "Actually, besides you, there's another person who committed murder."
Chang Ming looked at him upon hearing this.
Yun Ruosheng wore an innocent expression. "I'm not lying to you."
"There really is another person who killed."
Chang Ming was somewhat puzzled. "Who?"
Yun Ruosheng said haltingly, "My eldest son."
"He killed his own younger brother."
Chang Ming immediately became intrigued. "Oh? Then did you die from anger after learning of this?"
Yun Ruosheng shook his head, then asked Chang Ming, "Am I really dead?"
Chang Ming nodded. "Of course. Otherwise, who could float while walking?"
Only then did Yun Ruosheng gradually accept his death.
Chang Ming was a bit curious. "Do you still remember how you died?"
Yun Ruosheng thought about it. "I don't remember."
By now, they had arrived in the mortal realm.
Chang Ming opened the Soul Summoning Umbrella, resting it against her shoulder, and extended part of its shelter to Yun Ruosheng.
Yun Ruosheng thanked Chang Ming, but she said, "No need for thanks. Your grandson has already paid."
Hearing this, Yun Ruosheng broke into a wide grin. "My grandson is called Yun Yichu. He's the most promising child in our Yun family."
"At six he could compose poetry; at nine he could do accounting. At twelve he earned the title of Jieyuan; at sixteen he passed the Huiyuan examination by exception. This year he even entered the Palace Examination."
"I'm afraid he might seize the top rank."
"I truly pray to Heaven to bless him with the title of Zhuangyuan. It wouldn't be in vain after all these years of study."
Chang Ming looked at him with an indescribable feeling. "Do you truly love him that much?"
Yun Ruosheng was immensely proud. "Of course. He's the sole heir of our Yun family."
"And the most talented child at that."
"I've always felt this was a gift bestowed upon our Yun family by Heaven."
Chang Ming sighed. "Truly, fate likes to toy with people."
Yun Ruosheng's ears were somewhat hard of hearing. "What did you say?"
Chang Ming looked at the gates of Yun Manor. "Nothing."
"We've arrived at Yun Manor."
Yun Ruosheng looked at the magnificent Yun Manor. "I'm home."
"Young lady, thank you for your care along this journey. Whatever you desire, as long as I can manage it, I can give it to you."
Chang Ming narrowed her eyes, not quite revealing what she was plotting. "Truly?"
Yun Ruosheng was utterly sincere. "Of course it's true."
Chang Ming knocked on the gates of Yun Manor. "No rush. The matter of thanking me can be discussed later."
Before long, a young servant's voice called out from within, "Who is it?"