Chapter 18: Qi Siming Sent a Letter Back!

 

Madam Wei choked back her tears and recounted the series of unfortunate events at the Li household in vivid detail. Afterward, she kowtowed to the ground, her voice trembling with despair.

“I know the Daoist Master is greatly skilled. This old woman has no other requests but to beg you to dispel my son’s grievances and free his soul. If you agree, I am willing to part with all my family’s wealth and live the rest of my life as a vegetarian.”

Qi Ansheng echoed her plea repeatedly, nodding in agreement.

Xu Shuyue, realizing she was the only one who hadn’t spoken, hesitated briefly before clenching her teeth, about to say something. But before she could, the Daoist Master furrowed his brows so tightly it seemed all his facial features had crumpled together, as if he’d just heard something utterly incomprehensible.

Noticing his strange reaction, Xu Shuyue couldn’t help but feel something was amiss. She cautiously asked, “Daoist Master, are you struggling because this task is impossible for you?”

Master Chuyun turned around, his sharp gaze fixing on Xu Shuyue for a long moment without saying a word. Madam Wei, panicking, tugged urgently at Xu Shuyue’s sleeve, her voice laced with terror. “Shuyue! What are you doing? Apologize to the Daoist Master immediately!”

Turning to the Daoist, Madam Wei prostrated herself further, her tone deeply apologetic. “Daoist Master, my daughter-in-law is young and ignorant. Please, don’t take offense…”

Master Chuyun raised his hand, cutting her off with a shake of his head. “Madam Wei, your daughter-in-law is not wrong. What you ask of me, I truly cannot do.”

Xu Shuyue’s heart sank, her brows furrowing deeply. She cast a worried glance at Madam Wei and Qi Ansheng, who seemed utterly deflated, as if their spines had been pulled out, leaving them listless.

Madam Wei’s voice was hoarse as she pressed on, her words trembling with despair, “But Daoist Master, you could even determine my son’s life or death from thousands of miles away. Why…”

Her voice trailed off, the fire of hope within her dying out as sorrow took its place.

“You wish to know why I cannot dispel his grievances?” Master Chuyun’s tone carried a hint of helplessness. “Is that what you’re asking, Madam Wei?”

Madam Wei stiffly nodded, though she quickly realized it might come across as disrespectful. She hurriedly opened her mouth to say something to salvage the situation, but the Daoist Master raised his hand again to stop her.

His gaze shifted back to Xu Shuyue, lingering on her serene face before finally settling on the delicate curve of her pale wrist. His eyes narrowed as if he were confirming something.

Xu Shuyue was utterly baffled. She instinctively lowered her head, glancing at her own wrist, but aside from the plain jade bracelet she always wore, there was nothing unusual there.

What was he staring at?

She voiced her curiosity aloud, and the Daoist Master chuckled softly. “Naturally, I was observing your fateful red thread of marriage.”

Xu Shuyue’s expression hardened, her gaze growing cold. “You can’t dispel grievances, yet you claim to see intangible threads of marriage? Don’t you think that’s a bit contradictory?”

Her words were sharp, teetering on outright accusing him of being a fraud.

The young disciple standing to the side bristled with anger. “What did you just say?!” His master was the most skilled Daoist under heaven, and this ignorant woman dared to spew such insolence!

Xu Shuyue remained resolute, as if the boy’s fiery indignation was of no consequence.

Master Chuyun, however, remained calm, smiling serenely as he gestured for his disciple to back down. “Now, now, Little Nine. Your master isn’t upset; why should you be? Go fetch some tea for our guests and treat them well.”

After all, these were esteemed visitors—potential benefactors who could fund the temple’s long-overdue restoration. Even if they cursed him to his face, he’d have to endure it. This little brat didn’t understand the stakes.

Pouting in defiance, the boy huffed loudly as he stomped past Xu Shuyue, intentionally brushing close to her.

Xu Shuyue watched him go, unimpressed, and thought to herself, What an immature little rascal.

Despite maintaining an air of nonchalance, Master Chuyun discreetly observed Xu Shuyue’s reaction out of the corner of his eye. Seeing that she hadn’t taken the boy’s behavior to heart, he breathed a quiet sigh of relief.

Though Xu Shuyue’s fate was written in the stars as his destined benefactor, Daoist Master Chuyun held no obligation to cling to fate blindly. If her character proved unbecoming, especially if she couldn’t even tolerate a child’s temper, then he could afford to miss this opportunity.

At worst, he would simply wait for the next benefactor to appear in a few decades.

Fortunately, Xu Shuyue merely doubted his abilities rather than showing ill intentions. With this thought, Daoist Master Chuyun retrieved a bamboo lot-drawing container from the incense table, shook it lightly, and handed it to the trio. With a smile, he said, “Esteemed guests, silently focus on the matter you seek guidance for, draw a lot, and I will interpret its meaning for you.”

Madam Wei and Qi Ansheng trembled slightly as they reached out their hands toward the lot container. Just before they drew, Daoist Master Chuyun casually remarked, “Allow me to remind you—this young lady’s marriage thread is still securely tied to her wrist.”

Xu Shuyue frowned. She had crossed into this world and married in a bizarre ceremony where a rooster had stood in for the deceased Qi Siming. The man himself was long dead, but the rooster was still alive and well in the backyard. According to the Daoist’s claim, could her marriage thread be tied to a chicken?

Her expression became one of indescribable complexity. Meanwhile, Madam Wei and Qi Ansheng’s hearts skipped a beat. Madam Wei hesitated before asking cautiously, “Daoist Master, are you implying…”

“Shh,” Daoist Master Chuyun interrupted with a mysterious wink, “That cannot be spoken of.”

Seeing him resume his enigmatic air, Xu Shuyue couldn’t bear to look, rolling her eyes as she pulled out a lot from the container.

Madam Wei hadn’t expected Xu Shuyue to act so quickly. Startled, she hastily handed her own lot to the Daoist Master and then had Qi Ansheng draw his.

Knowing the couple’s urgency, Xu Shuyue allowed them to have their lots interpreted first.

Madam Wei, anxious and preoccupied with thoughts of Qi Siming, was stunned when her lot turned out to be a “Great Auspicious” lot, the highest ranking.

Qi Ansheng’s lot was also “Great Auspicious.”

Although the two didn’t fully understand the cryptic meaning of the lot’s verses, they knew enough to recognize how fortuitous it was to draw “Great Auspicious.”

Madam Wei was overwhelmed with joy. “Daoist Master, does this mean… my son isn’t dead?”

Qi Ansheng’s face tightened with urgency. “Could it be that our son is still alive somewhere in this world?”

Daoist Master Chuyun’s enigmatic smile deepened. “Such is the message of the lot. Congratulations to the two of you—you may soon have your wish fulfilled.”

The meaning was clear: they could abandon their plans to purify his so-called grievances. After all, ghosts don’t exist. At most, there may be a misplaced soul from another world.

Hearing this, Madam Wei and Qi Ansheng visibly brightened, their faces lighting up with hope.

Madam Wei, in particular, was so overjoyed that she immediately donated five taels of silver for incense and temple maintenance. This had been pre-agreed upon with Qi Ansheng—regardless of the outcome, they would express their gratitude for the Daoist’s previous divination.

Daoist Master Chuyun graciously thanked them on behalf of their ancestral deity. Then his gaze shifted toward Xu Shuyue, whose brow remained tightly furrowed.

“Would you like your lot interpreted as well?” He extended his hand with a smile.

Xu Shuyue hesitated briefly before handing over her lot, her gaze flickering uncertainly. “I’ll trouble you, Daoist Master.”

When Daoist Master Chuyun saw the inscription on her lot, he couldn’t help but laugh. “Ah, so that’s why. This otherworldly soul becomes a benefactor to my temple, drawn by an insatiable longing for wealth,” he thought to himself.

Before the three could even finish the tea prepared by the apprentice, Daoist Master Chuyun saw them off, having already received Xu Shuyue’s promise.

Walking down the mountain trail, Madam Wei was still puzzled. She turned to Xu Shuyue and asked, “Shuyue, why did the Daoist ask you to return to the temple in ten years?”

After drawing her lot, Xu Shuyue had a brief private conversation with the Daoist in the courtyard. Madam Wei and Qi Ansheng had watched from a distance but couldn’t hear their discussion, leaving them baffled by the Daoist’s peculiar request.

Xu Shuyue couldn’t shake the words “otherworldly soul” from her mind. When the Daoist had pointed out her identity, she finally accepted that he wasn’t just some daoist—he truly had some extraordinary abilities.

Glancing back at the dilapidated temple behind her, she sighed and replied, “The Daoist calculated that my husband and I share a karmic connection with the temple. In ten years, he wants me to return and fund its restoration.”

Madam Wei frowned. “And why is that? Just because of some so-called ‘connection,’ he expects my daughter-in-law to spend hundreds, if not thousands, of taels of silver to repair his temple? Is the Daoist Master losing his mind from poverty?”

Having spent the past month regarding the Daoist Master as a near-divine figure, this was the first time Madam Wei found herself harboring doubts about him.

Qi Ansheng, on the other hand, thought more deeply. “Did the Daoist say anything else?” he asked.

Xu Shuyue sighed, her tone troubled. “He said that my ambitions are too great. While they can be realized, if I want to ensure blessings for future generations, I must do more good deeds. Otherwise, I might face life-threatening consequences. Restoring the temple is just the first of many tasks.”

Qi Ansheng seemed to understand what Xu Shuyue sought. He nodded and said, “If it can come true, then setting aside some of the wealth for good works is not a bad idea.”

Madam Wei finally caught on, her eyes widening in astonishment. She turned to look at Xu Shuyue, who responded with an apologetic smile.

Madam Wei pointed at her, momentarily at a loss for words. Xu Shuyue playfully tugged on her arm, grinning mischievously.

“Mother, if I can earn lots of money, you’ll get to eat meat whenever you want, have new clothes every season, and live comfortably. Isn’t that a good thing?”

Of course, it was great news, but the prerequisite was that Xu Shuyue mustn’t face life-threatening danger.

Madam Wei sighed helplessly. People often said children were a form of debt, but it seemed daughters-in-law were no different. Thankfully, a bit of good news dangled in front of her, keeping her spirits up enough not to lose her temper.

When Daoist Master Chuyun had seen them out, he mentioned, “Good things are just around the corner.” Madam Wei had clung to those words, buoyed by hope. She never imagined the “good thing” would arrive so quickly.

Just after lunch, a loud knock resounded on the door, followed by someone shouting, “Qi family! Your Eldest Son sent a letter!”

It was the most relaxed time of day in the village. Folks were basking in the afternoon sun, chatting away idly at the village entrance. When the messenger mentioned that Qi Eldest Son had sent a letter, curiosity immediately spiked. The chitchat ceased, and the crowd gathered in small groups, eager to see what it was about.

Zhou Laosan, who had spent the night at the Li family playing cards and was now stumbling his way home, noticed a large group forming. Curious, he grabbed someone nearby and asked, “What’s going on over there? What’s all the fuss about?”

Dong Yong had been watching as Madam Wei received the letter, waiting for her to read it aloud. Annoyed by Zhou Laosan’s interruption, he turned to scold him. But upon recognizing Zhou Laosan was older, Dong Yong simply shook off his hand and suppressed his irritation. “Qi Eldest Son sent a letter home. Everyone’s here to find out what it says.”

“Qi Eldest Son?” Zhou repeated blankly, then suddenly woke up. “Isn’t he supposed to be dead?!”

“Hey, you—” Dong Yong couldn’t believe what he’d just heard. What kind of tactless comment was that? Worse yet, he’d said it so loudly, right in front of the family. Didn’t he notice Qi Eldest Son’s daughter-in-law glaring daggers at him?

Feeling embarrassed, Dong Yong quickly swapped places with someone else in the crowd, distancing himself from Zhou Laosan. He didn’t want to be dragged down by Zhou Laosan’s thoughtless words and risk offending the Qi family.

“What? I’m just saying the truth,” Zhou Laosan muttered, seemingly oblivious to the tension. Then, as if struck by sudden interest, he decided against going home to eat and squeezed his way into the crowd.

Once he reached the front, he saw Madam Wei trembling as she tore open the envelope.

The letter itself didn’t look much different from the last one they’d received. Madam Wei pulled out a stack of papers and, at first glance, assumed it was all correspondence. But when she unfolded the papers, she saw a silver note tucked within!

Madam Wei gasped sharply, clutching the papers tightly. She instinctively folded the letter back up when she noticed the villagers craning their necks, trying to peek at what was in her hands.

The crowd didn’t understand her reaction. One curious older woman asked in confusion, “What’s the matter, Sister Wei? Why aren’t you reading it? Is it really a letter from Siming?”