What is this?
Not only the evil spirit didn’t know, even Shui Miao himself was clueless.
He simply channeled all the water-based spiritual energy within his body, activating his powers as instructed by the female ghost. As to why a single drop of colorful water appeared, he really hoped someone would step forward and explain.
“Ahh! No…”
Suddenly, the evil spirit covered its eyes in terror. Immediately after, its head emitted a radiant seven-colored light, which quickly spread and enveloped its entire body. In the blink of an eye, the colorful light vanished, transforming into nine tiny, colorful water droplets floating mid-air.
Shui Miao sensed with his spiritual awareness and detected no trace of the evil spirit’s presence—it seemed to have completely disappeared.
Yet, these nine tiny droplets resonated with Shui Miao’s consciousness. They were extremely pure and brimming with mysterious power.
What is this?
Not even the evil spirit knew, and neither did Shui Miao himself.
He had merely channeled all the water-based spiritual energy within his body, following the method described by the female ghost to unleash his magical power. As for why a multicolored water droplet had appeared, he truly wished someone could step forward and explain it.
“Ah! No…”
Suddenly, the evil spirit clutched its eyes in terror, but immediately after, its head began emitting a multicolored light. The light rapidly spread, enveloping its entire body. In the blink of an eye, the multicolored light dissipated, transforming into nine small multicolored water droplets suspended in mid-air.
Shui Miao sensed with his divine consciousness that there was no longer any trace of the evil spirit—it seemed to have completely vanished.
The nine small water droplets, however, were now connected to Shui Miao’s will. They were incredibly pure, brimming with mysterious and wondrous power.
With a mere thought, Shui Miao withdrew his immortal power and soul-devouring force, grabbing the water droplets into his hand. As he examined them, the droplets automatically imprinted onto his palm, merging seamlessly with his skin!
“Great Immortal, thank you for helping me achieve my great revenge!”
Seeing how formidable Shui Miao was, the female ghost immediately bowed in gratitude.
The water ghost’s abilities were also quite remarkable. From her various unusual signs, Shui Miao deduced that she had intentionally released signals indicating she was in danger and held captive, hoping for assistance.
Today, Shui Miao’s arrival here confirmed his inference.
But though Shui Miao saw things clearly, he felt this female ghost wasn’t entirely pure-hearted—she was actually quite clever and cunning.
To turn the tables on the evil spirit and manipulate it so thoroughly, she was certainly no ordinary being.
Shui Miao raised his hand, signaling the female ghost to rise. He looked at her, frowned, and asked, “The monkey demon is your third brother, and the hedgehog demon is your eldest brother?”
“Y-yes…”
The female ghost’s eyes shifted. “To be honest with you, Great Immortal, what they did was actually… I…”
Her stammering clearly indicated she was hiding something.
Shui Miao frowned deeply. “I forgot to tell you—I have a straightforward personality. You don’t have to speak, but if you do, it’s best to tell the truth. If you try to deceive me or conceal anything…”
“I wouldn’t dare! I wouldn’t dare!” The female ghost was startled and quickly knelt again. “Great Immortal, I had no choice. I never wanted to harm anyone—it was all that evil spirit’s doing. Every three years, he would kill someone to absorb their primordial spirit for nourishment. This year, he demanded that I kill someone too, hoping to turn me into an evil spirit. But I never dared to act, which is why I asked the monkey and hedgehog demons for help. Thankfully… thankfully they didn’t succeed!”
“Rise…”
Shui Miao couldn’t help but shake his head. “A single thought for good, a single thought for evil—you were almost beyond redemption. But have you considered what would have happened if I hadn’t appeared? Would you have eventually resorted to extremes?”
“Yes, probably.” The female ghost lowered her head.
Shui Miao sighed softly. “I understand. You may go. I hope you strive to be a good ghost and avoid harming the innocent.”
“Thank you, Great Immortal! Thank you, Great Immortal!”
The female ghost, as if relieved of a great burden, vanished in a flash.
Shui Miao frowned in deep thought. When people resort to any means for survival, it doesn’t seem entirely wrong. If he were in the female ghost’s position, given her circumstances, he believed he would also struggle with difficult choices. That she could maintain a kind heart despite being forced into such a situation was already remarkable for a mortal. But for those pursuing the Great Dao, a choice must be made—the Dao allows no ambiguity or indecision. So, if he were truly in her place, what would he do?
This question seemed simple but was, in fact, extremely complex.
Often, the Great Dao is reflected in seemingly simple questions.
“Shui Miao, are you okay?”
Lin Xue and Chu Miaoyi approached, puzzled to see Shui Miao lost in thought.
“I’m fine. I’m just pondering a question.”
Shui Miao smiled slightly and recounted everything that had just happened. Then he asked Lin Xue and Chu Miaoyi, “If you were in her place, what would you choose to do?”
“Well…”
Chu Miaoyi paused briefly. “This is both difficult and easy—it depends on whether you want to be good or evil. If you want to be good, try your best to persuade your master, ideally turning them into a good person too. Wouldn’t that solve the problem? But if you want to be evil, then just kill, kill, kill.”
“Impossible! There’s no way an evil spirit would listen to persuasion!” Lin Xue shook her head. “If it were me, I’d train hard and kill that evil master before he could force me to kill anyone.”
“Sis, training isn’t that easy, you know.”
Chu Miaoyi scratched her head awkwardly.
Lin Xue waved her hand dismissively. “Just thinking out loud. Do your best, that’s all. By the way, Shui Miao, what do you think about this?”
“…”
Shui Miao had too many concerns and was still thinking of the best solution. “The female ghost’s approach could be considered the best strategy, but I feel there might be an even better way. I just can’t think of it right now.”
“Alright, alright, let’s not overthink it. The more we dwell on it, the more headache it brings. Let’s all head back.” Lin Xue felt her head spinning and waved her hand, pointing toward the car. “By the way, there’s a female corpse over by the car… Huh? Where did it go?”
Shui Miao and Chu Miaoyi looked toward the car—the female corpse had indeed disappeared.
“She… went underground…”
Through his divine sense, Shui Miao detected that the female ghost had moved the corpse underground.
Seeing this, Shui Miao grew genuinely concerned. Over time, would she become a second evil spirit?
“…”
Lin Xue and Chu Miaoyi exchanged glances.
Lin Xue suddenly smiled. “This might be for the best. I was just wondering where to place her.”
“Shui Miao, then… does this case just end here?” Chu Miaoyi thought more deeply and also worried the female ghost might become a second evil spirit.
Shui Miao was deeply conflicted, unsure of what to do.
Suddenly, he recalled the evil spirit’s earlier words: when it wholeheartedly pursued goodness, no one came to help. Thinking of this, Shui Miao had an epiphany. “A single thought for good, a single thought for evil—we should build a temple nearby, allowing her to cultivate in peace, receive offerings from the people, and thus bring blessings to the area.”
“That’s a good idea, but these days, you can’t just build a temple whenever you want.” Chu Miaoyi also thought the idea was good but impractical.
Lin Xue suddenly had an idea. “Wait, I remember there’s a nunnery not far south from here. Why don’t we find her body and send it there?”
“No!” As soon as Lin Xue finished speaking, Shui Miao heard the female ghost’s voice in his mind. “Don’t send me to the nunnery. There’s an old turtle demon there, incredibly powerful—I’m no match for it. If you truly want to help me, buy me a burial plot so I can have a home. I swear I won’t do evil. I’ll strive to be a good ghost, waiting for my chance to reincarnate and be reborn as a human.”
“Alright, bring your body out. We’ll find you a burial plot with good feng shui so you can have a home.”
Shui Miao looked toward the car and let out a long sigh of relief.
In a flash, the female ghost’s body reappeared before everyone.
※※※
Around four in the afternoon, after handling procedures, calling in favors, and dealing with various tasks, the burial plot was finally settled.
It had to be said—burial plots these days were damn expensive. A single plot cost thirty thousand yuan. Shui Miao had no money, so he asked Lin Xue to cover it temporarily, promising to repay her that evening.
“Thank you…”
After placing the body in the burial plot, as Shui Miao prepared to leave, the female ghost’s voice echoed in his mind again.
“Don’t thank me. This is what they call ‘good deeds bring good rewards.’ You deserve it.”
Shui Miao responded mentally before leaving with Lin Xue and the others.
Unexpectedly, the female ghost’s voice spoke again: “You shouldn’t have to repay those thirty thousand yuan. Go to the place where you first found my body and head south for about three li. You’ll see a small river with a thick peach tree growing by its bank. Under the peach tree, in the river, there’s a half-submerged concrete boat. In the cabin of the boat, there’s a lot of foul-smelling mud, but beneath the mud lies a large box filled with gold bars…”
“Whose gold bars are they?”
Shui Miao paused slightly, slowing his steps.
“There’s a household near the peach tree. They built a small villa and keep three Tibetan mastiffs in their yard. The son of this family is a high-ranking official in Huanghai City—a very corrupt official. The money was hidden there by his father. After you retrieve the money, if possible, please give some to my parents. I couldn’t honor them in life, and I hope to make up for my filial piety this way.”
Shui Miao nodded gently. “Alright. What’s your parents’ address?”
“South of the river, there’s only one household—that’s my home. The house is surrounded by water, with only a road to the west. You’ll know it when you get there.” The female ghost’s tone suddenly softened. “Great Immortal, thank you. If you need me, I’m willing to do anything for you.”
“Uh… you’re welcome. I’m in a hurry. I’ll go now, right now…”
Shui Miao shuddered inwardly and quickly strode to catch up with Lin Xue and the others. Why did it feel like the female ghost was offering herself to him?
※※※
Back at the bureau, Shui Miao, along with Lin Xue and Chu Miaoyi, escorted the female students back to their dorm.
However, the girls were still quite frightened.
Many of them were very timid, and after last night’s incident spread like wildfire, quite a few had moved out temporarily.
Shui Miao decided to see this through to the end. He drew some Heavenly Guardian Talismans and distributed them, instructing the girls to place the talismans under their pillows to help calm their nerves.
After leaving the girls’ dorm, Shui Miao was dragged by Lin Xue and Chu Miaoyi to a small restaurant for drinks and a meal.
Having cultivated for a long time, with immortal energy nourishing his organs, Shui Miao rarely felt hungry.
After eating a little, he began reviewing the day’s video recordings.
When he saw footage of himself standing upside down in the ditch, talking to himself like a madman, Shui Miao frowned and muttered, “Those who cultivate can see things normal people can’t. Me standing upside down could be explained as my soul going underground. But why could everyone see those whirlwinds, while the camera couldn’t capture them?”
“I think I know!”
Chu Miaoyi suddenly put down her chopsticks excitedly.
“Immortal Master, thank you for avenging me!”
Seeing how powerful Shui Miao was, the female ghost immediately bowed in gratitude.
The female ghost was no weakling either. From her unusual behavior, Shui Miao deduced she had deliberately sent out signals indicating she was in danger—kidnapped—and desperately seeking help.
When Shui Miao arrived at the location today, his suspicions were confirmed.
Yet, Shui Miao remained clear-minded. He sensed that this female ghost wasn’t entirely innocent; she was actually clever and cunning.
Who could possibly outwit an evil spirit and manipulate it so thoroughly, unless she was no ordinary being?
Shui Miao raised his hand, helping the female ghost to her feet. He looked at her and frowned, asking, “So that monkey demon is your third brother, and the hedgehog demon is your eldest brother?”
“Yes, that’s right…”
The female ghost’s eyes flickered. “To be honest with you, Immortal Master, what they did… actually… I…”
She hesitated, clearly holding something back.
Shui Miao’s frown deepened. “I forgot to mention—I’m pretty straightforward. You don’t have to tell me everything, but whatever you say had better be the truth. If you try to deceive or hide something from me…”
“I dare not! I won’t dare again!” The female ghost was startled, quickly kneeling again. “Immortal Master, I had no choice. I never wanted to harm anyone. It was the evil spirit who forced me. Every three years, it kills someone and absorbs their soul to strengthen itself. This year, it ordered me to kill someone, trying to turn me into another evil spirit. But I couldn’t bring myself to do it, so I asked the monkey and hedgehog demons to help me. Fortunately, they failed!”
“Stand up…”
Shui Miao shook his head slightly. “One thought can lead to good, another to evil. You were dangerously close to falling into darkness forever. But have you ever considered—what would have happened if I hadn’t shown up? Would you have eventually gone down that path?”
“I would have… I think I would have.” The female ghost lowered her head.
Shui Miao sighed softly. “I understand. Go now. I hope you can be a good ghost and avoid harming the innocent.”
“Thank you, Immortal Master! Thank you!”
Relieved, the female ghost vanished in a flash.
Shui Miao furrowed his brow in deep thought. People resorting to desperate measures for survival didn’t seem inherently wrong. If he put himself in the female ghost’s shoes, he imagined he’d also be torn and conflicted. For an ordinary person, maintaining a kind heart under such pressure was already admirable. But for someone pursuing the Dao, choices had to be clear-cut. The Dao tolerated no ambiguity. So, if he were truly in her place, what would he have done?
This question seemed simple, yet it was anything but.
Often, the Dao revealed itself precisely in such seemingly simple dilemmas.
“Shui Miao, are you okay?”
Lin Xue and Chu Miaoyi approached. Seeing Shui Miao lost in thought, they looked puzzled.
“I’m fine. Just thinking about something.”
Shui Miao smiled slightly and recounted what had happened, then turned to Lin Xue and Chu Miaoyi, asking, “If it were you, what would you have done?”
“Hmm…”
Chu Miaoyi hesitated briefly. “It’s hard to say. It depends on whether you want to be good or evil. If you want to be good, you try to persuade the master, maybe even turn the master into a good person. That solves the problem. But if you want to be evil, then you just kill, kill, kill.”
“That’s impossible. Evil spirits won’t listen to your reasoning!” Lin Xue shook her head. “If it were me, I’d work hard to improve my skills and kill that evil master before he made me commit murder.”
“Sis, cultivating power isn’t that easy, is it?”
Chu Miaoyi scratched her head awkwardly.
Lin Xue waved her hand casually. “Just talking. Do your best. Hey, Shui Miao, what do you think?”
“…”
Shui Miao, burdened with too many thoughts, was still pondering the best solution. “The female ghost’s method was probably the best approach, but I still feel there must be a better way—I just can’t think of it right now.”
“Alright, forget it. This question just makes my head hurt more. Let’s go back.” Lin Xue waved her hand, heading toward the car. “Oh, there was a female corpse by the car… Hmm, how come it’s gone?”
Shui Miao and Chu Miaoyi looked toward the car—indeed, the corpse was gone.
“She’s underground…”
With his spiritual senses, Shui Miao detected the female ghost had taken the corpse underground.
Seeing this, Shui Miao couldn’t help but worry—would the female ghost eventually become another evil spirit over time?
“…”
Lin Xue and Chu Miaoyi exchanged glances.
Lin Xue suddenly smiled. “Well, I was just wondering where to put her.”
“Shui Miao, so… are we just dropping this case like that?” Chu Miaoyi thought deeper—she was also worried the female ghost might become another evil spirit.
Shui Miao was at a loss, unsure what to do.
Suddenly, he recalled the evil spirit’s earlier words—that no one helped him when he tried to be good. At this thought, Shui Miao suddenly saw the light. “One thought can lead to good, another to evil. We should build a temple nearby to let her cultivate peacefully, receiving offerings from the people and blessing the region.”
“That’s a good idea, but nowadays, building a temple isn’t that easy.” Chu Miaoyi liked the idea but knew it would be hard to implement.
Suddenly, Lin Xue had an idea. “Right, I remember there’s a nunnery not far south from here. What if we take her body there?”
“No!” As soon as Lin Xue spoke, Shui Miao heard the female ghost’s voice in his mind. “Don’t send me to the nunnery. There’s a powerful old turtle demon there—I can’t fight it. If you truly want to help me, please find me a tomb, give me a home. I swear I won’t do evil again. I’ll be a good ghost, waiting for the chance to reincarnate and become human again.”
“Alright, bring out your corpse, and we’ll find you a nice tomb with good feng shui.”
Shui Miao looked toward the car and exhaled deeply.
In a flash, the female ghost’s corpse reappeared before them.
※※※
Around four in the afternoon, after running countless errands and pulling every connection, they finally secured the tomb.
Needless to say, modern tombs were damn expensive—each plot costing thirty thousand yuan. Shui Miao had no money, so he asked Lin Xue to cover it, promising to pay her back tonight.
“Thank you…”
As Shui Miao was about to leave after placing the corpse in the tomb, the female ghost’s voice echoed in his mind again.
“No thanks needed. This is just karma—what you deserve.”
Shui Miao responded mentally, then left with Lin Xue and the others.
But the female ghost’s voice came again. “That thirty thousand yuan—don’t let you pay it. Go back to where you found my body and walk straight south for about three miles. You’ll see a small river with a thick peach tree by its bank. Under the tree, in the river, there’s a half-sunken cement boat. Inside the boat’s cabin, beneath the stinky mud, there’s a large box filled with gold bars…”
“Whose gold bars are these?”
Shui Miao was slightly startled and slowed his pace.
“Beside the peach tree lives a family in a small villa. They have three Tibetan mastiffs in the yard. The son of that family is a high-ranking official in Huanghai City—a very corrupt one. That money was hidden there by his father. After you take the gold, if possible, please give some to my parents. I couldn’t take care of them in life, but I hope I can make up for it now.”
Shui Miao nodded gently. “Alright. Where do your parents live?”
“South of that river, there’s only one household. That’s my home. Our house is surrounded by water except for a path on the west side—you’ll know when you get there.” Her tone suddenly softened. “Immortal Master, thank you. If you need anything, I’m willing to do anything for you.”
“Uh… you’re welcome. I’m in a hurry. I’ll go now… right now…”
Feeling a strange vibe—as if the female ghost were hinting at something more—Shui Miao hurried to catch up with Lin Xue and the others.
※※※
Back at the bureau, Shui Miao, Lin Xue, and Chu Miaoyi escorted the female student back.
Still, many of the girls were frightened.
Many were quite timid. After last night’s events spread like wildfire, many had moved out.
Shui Miao decided to go the extra mile. He drew some heavenly righteous talismans and handed them out, telling the girls to keep them under their pillows to calm their nerves.
After leaving the dormitory, Lin Xue and Chu Miaoyi dragged Shui Miao to a small restaurant for dinner and drinks.
What is this?
Not even the evil spirit knew, and even Shui Miao himself had no idea.
He simply channeled all the water-based spiritual energy within his body, activating his magical power as the female ghost had instructed. As for why a multicolored water droplet had appeared, he truly wished someone could step forward and explain it.
“Ah! No…”
Suddenly, the evil spirit clutched its eyes in terror, but immediately after, its head began to emit a multicolored light. The light rapidly spread, enveloping its entire body. In the blink of an eye, the multicolored light dissipated, leaving behind nine tiny multicolored water droplets suspended in mid-air.
Shui Miao sensed with his divine consciousness that not a trace of the evil spirit remained—it seemed to have completely vanished.
The nine tiny water droplets, however, felt connected to Shui Miao’s will. They were incredibly pure, brimming with mysterious power.
With a mere thought, Shui Miao withdrew his immortal and soul-devouring powers, grabbing the droplets. As he examined them, they automatically imprinted onto his palm, merging with his skin!
“Great Immortal, thank you for avenging me!”
Seeing how formidable Shui Miao was, the female ghost immediately bowed in gratitude.
This water ghost was quite powerful herself. From her various unusual signs, Shui Miao deduced that she had intentionally released signals indicating she was in danger and held captive, hoping for help.
When Shui Miao arrived today, it confirmed his inference.
But though Shui Miao saw things clearly, he felt this female ghost wasn’t entirely pure-hearted—she was clever and cunning.
To turn the tables on the evil spirit and manipulate it so thoroughly, she was certainly no ordinary being.
Shui Miao raised his hand, signaling the female ghost to rise. He frowned as he looked at her and asked, “The monkey demon is your third brother, and the hedgehog demon is your eldest brother?”
“Y-yes…”
The female ghost’s eyes shifted. “To be honest with you, Great Immortal, what they did was actually… I…”
Her stammering clearly indicated she was hiding something.
Shui Miao frowned deeply. “I forgot to tell you—I’m a straightforward person. You don’t have to speak, but if you do, it’s best to tell the truth. If you try to deceive me or conceal anything…”
“I wouldn’t dare! I wouldn’t dare!” The female ghost, frightened, quickly knelt again. “Great Immortal, I had no choice. I never wanted to harm anyone—it was all that evil spirit’s doing. Every three years, he would kill someone to absorb their primordial spirit for nourishment. This year, he demanded I kill someone too, hoping to turn me into an evil spirit. But I never dared to act, which is why I asked the monkey and hedgehog demons for help. Thankfully… thankfully they didn’t succeed!”
“Rise…”
Shui Miao couldn’t help but shake his head. “A single thought for good, a single thought for evil—you were almost beyond redemption. But have you considered what would have happened if I hadn’t appeared? Would you have eventually resorted to extremes?”
“Yes, I probably would have.” The female ghost lowered her head.
Shui Miao sighed softly. “I understand. You may go. I hope you strive to be a good ghost and refrain from harming the innocent.”
“Thank you, Great Immortal! Thank you!”
The female ghost, relieved, vanished in a flash.
Shui Miao frowned in deep thought. When people resort to any means for survival, it doesn’t seem entirely wrong. If he were in the female ghost’s position, given her circumstances, he believed he would also struggle with difficult choices. That she managed to maintain a kind heart despite being forced into such a situation was no small feat for a mortal. However, for those pursuing the Great Dao, a choice must be made—the Dao allows no ambiguity or indecision. So, if he were truly in her place, what would he do?
This question seemed simple but was, in fact, profoundly complex.
Often, the Great Dao reveals itself in seemingly simple questions.
“Shui Miao, are you alright?”
Lin Xue and Chu Miaoyi approached, puzzled to see Shui Miao lost in thought.
“I’m fine. I’m just pondering a question.”
Shui Miao smiled slightly and recounted everything that had just happened. Then he asked Lin Xue and Chu Miaoyi, “If you were in her place, what would you choose to do?”
“Well…”
Chu Miaoyi paused briefly. “It’s both difficult and easy—it depends on whether you want to be good or evil. If you want to be good, try your best to persuade your master, ideally turning them into a good person too. Wouldn’t that solve the problem? But if you want to be evil, then just kill, kill, kill.”
“Impossible! An evil spirit would never listen to persuasion!” Lin Xue shook her head. “If it were me, I’d train hard and kill that wicked master before they could force me to kill anyone.”
“Sis, training isn’t that easy, you know.”
Chu Miaoyi scratched her head awkwardly.
Lin Xue waved her hand dismissively. “Just thinking out loud. Do your best, that’s all. By the way, Shui Miao, what do you think?”
“…”
Shui Miao, burdened with overthinking, was still searching for the best solution. “The female ghost’s approach was probably the best strategy, but I feel there might be an even better way. I just can’t think of it right now.”
“Alright, alright, let’s not dwell on it. The more we think, the more it gives us a headache. Let’s all head back.” Lin Xue felt overwhelmed and waved her hand toward the car. “By the way, there’s a female corpse near the car… Huh? Where did it go?”
Shui Miao and Chu Miaoyi looked toward the car—the female corpse had indeed disappeared.
“She… went underground…”
With his divine sense, Shui Miao detected that the female ghost had moved the corpse underground.
Seeing this, Shui Miao grew genuinely concerned that, over time, she might become a second evil spirit.
“…”
Lin Xue and Chu Miaoyi exchanged glances.
Lin Xue suddenly smiled. “Actually, that’s for the best. I was wondering where to put her.”
“Shui Miao, then… does that mean this case is just dropped?” Chu Miaoyi thought more deeply and also worried the female ghost might become another evil spirit.
Shui Miao felt deeply conflicted and unsure what to do.
Suddenly, he recalled what the evil spirit had said earlier—that when it wholeheartedly pursued goodness, no one came to help. Thinking of this, Shui Miao had an epiphany. “A single thought for good, a single thought for evil. We should build a temple nearby, allowing her to cultivate in peace, receive offerings from the people, and bring blessings to the area.”
“That’s a good idea, but these days, you can’t just build a temple anywhere you want.” Chu Miaoyi also thought it was a good plan but impractical.
Lin Xue suddenly had an idea. “Wait, I remember there’s a nunnery not far south of here. Why don’t we retrieve her body and send it there?”
“No!” As soon as Lin Xue finished speaking, Shui Miao heard the female ghost’s voice in his mind. “Don’t send me to the nunnery. There’s an old turtle demon there, very powerful—I can’t defeat it. If you truly want to help me, buy me a burial plot so I can have a home. I swear I won’t do evil. I’ll be a good ghost, waiting for my chance to reincarnate and become human again.”
“Alright, bring your body out. We’ll find you a burial plot with good feng shui so you can have a home.”
Shui Miao looked toward the car and let out a long sigh of relief.
In a flash, the female ghost’s body reappeared before them.
※※※
Around 4 p.m., after handling procedures, calling in favors, and managing various tasks, they finally settled the burial plot matter.
It had to be said—graves these days were damn expensive. A single plot cost thirty thousand yuan. Shui Miao had no money, so he asked Lin Xue to cover it temporarily, promising to repay her that evening.
“Thank you…”
As Shui Miao placed the body in the grave and prepared to leave, the female ghost’s voice echoed in his mind again.
“Don’t thank me. This is what they call ‘good deeds bring good rewards.’ You deserve it.”
Shui Miao responded mentally before leaving with Lin Xue and the others.
Unexpectedly, the female ghost’s voice spoke again: “You shouldn’t have to repay those thirty thousand. Go to the place where you found my body and head south for about three li. You’ll see a small river with a thick peach tree growing by the bank. Under the tree, half a cement boat is submerged in the water. Inside the boat’s cabin, there’s a lot of foul-smelling mud, but beneath it lies a large box filled with gold bars…”
“Whose gold bars are they?”
Shui Miao paused slightly, slowing his pace.
“There’s a household near the peach tree. They built a small villa and keep three Tibetan Mastiffs in the yard. Their son is a high-ranking official in Huanghai City—a very corrupt one. The money was hidden there by his father. After you retrieve it, if possible, please give some to my parents. I couldn’t honor them in life, so I hope to make up for it now.”
Shui Miao nodded gently. “Alright. What’s your parents’ address?”
“South of the river, there’s only one household—that’s my home. The house is surrounded by water, with only a road to the west. You’ll know it when you get there.” The female ghost’s tone suddenly softened. “Great Immortal, thank you. If you need anything, I’m willing to do anything for you.”
“Uh… you’re welcome. I’m in a hurry. I’ll go now, right away…”
Shui Miao shuddered inwardly and quickly strode to catch up with Lin Xue and the others. Why did it feel like the female ghost was offering herself to him?
※※※
Back at the station, Shui Miao, along with Lin Xue and Chu Miaoyi, escorted the female students back.
However, the girls were still quite frightened.
Many of them were very timid, and after last night’s incident spread like wildfire, quite a few had moved out.
Shui Miao decided to see this through to the end. He drew some Heavenly Guardian Talismans and distributed them, instructing the girls to place them under their pillows to help calm their nerves.
After leaving the girls’ dormitory, Shui Miao was dragged by Lin Xue and Chu Miaoyi to a small restaurant for drinks and a meal.
Having cultivated for a long time, with immortal energy nourishing his organs, Shui Miao rarely felt hungry.
After eating a little, he reviewed the day’s video recordings.
When he saw himself standing upside down in the ditch, talking to himself like a madman, Shui Miao frowned and muttered, “Those who cultivate can see things normal people can’t. Me being upside down could be explained as my soul going underground. But why could everyone see those whirlwinds, yet the camera couldn’t capture them?”
“I think I know!”
Chu Miaoyi suddenly put down her chopsticks excitedly.
He ate just a little, then turned his attention to the day’s video recordings.
Seeing himself upside down in a ditch, talking to himself like a madman, Shui Miao frowned and muttered, “Cultivators can see things normal people can’t. My being upside down could be explained as my soul going underground. But why could everyone see those whirlwinds, yet the camera couldn’t capture them?”
“I think I know!”
Chu Miaoyi suddenly set down her chopsticks, eyes sparkling with excitement.
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