After arriving at Changchun Dian, Bi Zhen lost track of her target. After all, it was the opponent’s territory, and they could easily cover up their tracks.
Bi Zhen didn’t give up so easily. She had left the magical props behind at the port, so she simply disguised herself as a traveling physician, wandering around to gather information.
In Shi Family Village, Bi Zhen was accidentally spotted by the steward of the Shi estate, who invited her to the mansion to treat the young master. Upon seeing the child, Shi Lengzi, Bi Zhen immediately realized his condition was due to congenital weakness, something difficult to cure. However, blunt as she was, she knew better than to say so outright. Instead, she used some minor techniques to ease the child’s discomfort, doing her best to help.
Gradually, she also heard from villagers about rumors of ghosts haunting Changchun Palace. Naturally, she connected this to her own investigation and secretly went to explore the palace. Relying on her many magical artifacts, she managed to sneak inside and discovered the small cauldron.
“This cauldron was strange back then,” Bi Zhen recalled. “There was no protection around it at all. It was simply placed on a table in the room, with someone staring blankly at it, lost in thought. I just felt that the aura coming from the cauldron was a bit unusual. It wasn’t as powerful then as it is now, as if something was suppressing it. I didn’t think much of it, but since I had come all this way, and judging from the scene in the courtyard, it clearly wasn’t a place of good intent. So I decided to stir up some trouble and took the cauldron with me.”
After listening, Zhang Shisan thought for a moment and said, “From what this old Taoist can tell, this cauldron probably has nothing directly to do with the formation in that courtyard. The secret behind it might not even be fully understood by its original owner. The origin of this cauldron must be quite unusual. But judging from what’s happened, it seems to have a special connection with Mei Qing.”
Mei Qing frowned and said, “I don’t know what’s going on with this cauldron, but once it saw me, it just wouldn’t let go. I guess my teleportation technique failed, and I ended up teleporting straight into the house. That must have been drawn by the cauldron too. Now I don’t know whether this is a blessing or a curse.”
Zhang Shisan chuckled, “Well, considering your cultivation has improved greatly now, what curse are you talking about? I’d say most people in the world would be happy to have such a ‘curse’! As for Sweetie’s death, it’s probably related to those paper horses and paper men in the courtyard. If my guess is right, these things have likely caused more than just Sweetie’s tragedy.”
“Master,” Bi Zhen asked curiously, “why would they harm Sweetie? Is it really related to those paper figures?”
Zhang Shisan nodded. “People often speak of paper horses and paper men, or scattering beans to summon soldiers. Most of these are just techniques for controlling puppets, not particularly powerful. They can easily be destroyed by common countermeasures, like being doused in dog’s blood. However, in the dark arts, there are secret methods that not only enhance the power of these paper figures but also protect them from the usual ways of destruction. One such method specifically requires the blood of a virgin bride, obtained willingly on her wedding night. If the paper figures we saw in the courtyard were indeed created this way, then they must have harmed more than just Sweetie. Their plans, hehe, must truly be quite terrifying.”
Mei Qing frowned and said, “If what you say is true, then the nightmare spirit is a great weapon against cultivators. If these paper figures have overcome their previous weaknesses, even armies would be helpless against them. What those people in the courtyard are preparing is obviously for a specific purpose. I just can’t figure out who is behind all this, and why they would specifically use the Fragrant Sect as a cover?”
“Who cares?” Zhang Shisan said indifferently. “Once we smash their little compound and capture all these demons, you can ask them yourself!”
“Huh?” Mei Qing was surprised. “Master, didn’t you just give me a long lecture before about staying within our proper bounds and not going against the current? Why are you suddenly thinking of going to destroy their place?”
“Back then was back then,” Zhang Shisan huffed. “Now you two young lovebirds have already stolen their things, and not only that, you’ve left traces and even confronted them. So what’s there to hide from now? Since we can’t avoid it, we might as well strike first and turn their whole place upside down. Besides, with Lord Shi and his wife covering for us, we won’t have to do much hard work anyway.”
Hearing Zhang Shisan mention Lord Shi, Mei Qing couldn’t help but think of the child’s treatment and changed the subject. “Master, how is the child doing now?”
“How else? With this old Taoist’s help, naturally the illness was cured instantly,” Zhang Shisan said proudly.
Yeah right, all that work was done by your disciple, Mei Qing thought to himself but didn’t bother to argue further. He asked, “Master, you mentioned that Lord and Lady Shi would help. Do you really think they can assist in dealing with the Fragrant Sect? From what I saw, Lady Shi has suffered serious damage to her vital energy, and Lord Shi has no cultivation at all. I doubt they can help much.”
Zhang Shisan shook his head, took a sip of wine from his gourd, and said, “Kid, you’re still too green. You haven’t seen the whole picture here. The Fragrant Sect was originally an unintended creation of that little fox. If she doesn’t deal with it, who will? Besides, it’s actually a good thing for her. If the Fragrant Sect is allowed to grow and cause more trouble, her retribution will be even worse. The way her precious son turned out, partly because a union between human and demon is unacceptable in the Dao, but also as a result of the Fragrant Sect itself. So you see, cause and effect are not pleasant things. Sometimes you don’t even know how you got caught up in it, and you die without knowing why.”
Mei Qing and Bi Zhen exchanged glances, both feeling a bit uneasy. Bi Zhen, having cultivated under the principle of cause and effect since childhood, naturally regarded it as a given, and found it hard to accept Zhang Shisan’s words at first. Mei Qing, however, had often heard Zhang Shisan and Master Ku talk about the nature of cause and effect, and thus felt a deeper understanding.
Mei Qing then thought of his own relationship with Bi Zhen—they were indeed closely linked. Just seeing how he absorbed the cauldron and his cultivation skyrocketed, but even during their dual cultivation, Bi Zhen had to accompany him through the refining stage, showing how inseparable they had become. Yet he and Bi Zhen were different—one was bound by cause and effect, while the other was not. How would such a tangled matter be resolved?
Their situation somewhat resembled that of Lord and Lady Shi. Lord Shi wasn’t even involved in cultivation, let alone bound by cause and effect. Yet simply by marrying a fox spirit, he had to endure so much hardship. The whole matter was hard to explain.
Thinking of this, Mei Qing couldn’t help but say, “I can understand Lady Shi’s involvement, but why must Master insist on involving both of them? Lord Shi is clearly an ordinary person with no cultivation. What’s the deeper meaning behind dragging him into this?”
“Hehe, you silly boy, didn’t you notice something unusual about Lord Shi?” Zhang Shisan asked with a teasing smile.
Mei Qing and Bi Zhen exchanged glances, both frowning as they recalled every detail of their interactions with Lord Shi since they met him. Finally, they both shook their heads, indicating they had found nothing.
Zhang Shisan laughed. “No wonder you didn’t think of it—it’s quite unexpected. Haven’t you noticed that Lord Shi seems to have exceptionally good luck? It seems that no matter what good thing comes along, it doesn’t require him to seek it out—it just finds him.”
Bi Zhen felt disappointed and a bit annoyed. “Master, are you trying to trick me again? What kind of skill is good luck?”
“Why not?” Zhang Shisan replied. “Since you’re someone caught up in cause and effect, you should know that luck isn’t something ordinary people can easily obtain. Lord Shi must have an extremely fortunate fate. Otherwise, how could the fox spirit stay by his side without attracting lightning tribulations? Think about it—this guy, muddled and without any real skills, still managed to have a beautiful fox spirit come to him, serving and caring for him, gaining beauty and wealth, and doing nothing but drinking all day… Tell me, who among us has such good fortune?”
“Well…” Bi Zhen was momentarily at a loss for words. “So, Master, are you saying Lord Shi must have done something good in a past life? That means this life is meant for him to enjoy, so why drag him into this? Just relying on his good fortune, can we really destroy the Fragrant Sect?”
“Hehe, little girl, don’t be不服气. If I’ve arranged it this way, there must be a reason. You’ll understand in time,” Zhang Shisan said smugly.
As he spoke, he glanced outside and said, “This little fox seems smart, so why did she handle this matter so poorly? Has she already forgotten the doctor after her son recovered? Are we not getting the promised feast today?”
As soon as he finished speaking, a thunderous voice came from outside the courtyard: “Grandmaster Taoist, Shi humbly greets you with a kowtow!”
Everyone turned in surprise, only to see Lord Shi running toward them with big strides. From afar, he “thud” to his knees, bowed deeply, and didn’t lift his head again, sobbing loudly on the ground.
“Oh dear, my lord, please be a bit slower…” Everyone was stunned by this sudden display, but soon Lady Shi arrived, carrying Shi Lengzi, and quickly pulled Lord Shi up, apologizing with an embarrassed smile. “My husband is just overwhelmed with emotion. Please don’t laugh at him.”
Lord Shi wept bitterly, his tears soaking his beard and robe as he clung tightly to Lady Shi, exclaiming, “My dear wife, this time it’s really better! Lengzi is truly healed! Wah…”
Lady Shi held her wide-eyed, bewildered son in one arm and gently comforted her husband with the other. Lord Shi, a big, burly man, cried noisily into Lady Shi’s arms, while she whispered soothing words. The three of them were each in their element, leaving everyone present momentarily speechless.
Bi Zhen murmured, “So this is what happens when someone has too much good luck… Mei Qing, your luck is pretty good too. Be careful.”
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