Chapter 22: Baize Village

These three simple words struck deep into Yue Jianhong’s heart. He had always believed that he had done right by everyone except his own family. Yet, looking at it from another perspective, if he hadn't made the choices he did back then, how would things have turned out? Whether those choices were right or wrong seemed less important now. With bloodshot eyes gazing into the distance, Yue Jianhong slowly raised his hand to catch the rays of sunlight refracting toward him.

"Xiao Yi, I miss your grandmother." He was so tired. In this prosperous age, what more could he possibly want?

Hearing this, Yue Yi wept and smiled at the same time: "Okay, let's find Grandma. Miss Fu promised me she would help find her. We'll go right now."

Yue Jianhong lowered his hand, a faint smile appearing on his face: "Yes, your grandmother... she has waited for me for far too long. We cannot let any more time slip away."

The grandfather and granddaughter stood face to face, their silhouettes merging under the setting sun. After a long while, Yue Yi, who had cried until a bubble of snot formed, looked up with teary eyes: "Grandpa, why did you come out in broad daylight?"

Yue Jianhong: "..." All the warmth vanished in an instant. He turned his gaze to the side: "Master."

Fu Qiqi elegantly wiped her mouth and nodded in response. Yue Yi also turned her head and saw a handkerchief held out to her. She felt a bit shy: "Thank you, Miss Fu. I’ll wash it and return it to you."

"That is quite unnecessary."

"What?" Yue Yi wiped her nose and sniffed, looking pitiful.

Fu Qiqi smiled: "Nothing, it's a gift for you."

Yue Yi looked at the handkerchief in her hand. It was quite plain and didn't even have a brand, so she nodded and tucked it away: "Miss Fu, can we set off now?"

"We can."

After composing themselves, the three embarked on the journey to find the old lady. Suddenly, Fu Qiqi turned back as if she had just remembered something and slapped a yellow talisman onto Yue Yi’s forehead.

Yue Yi touched the object obstructing her vision and asked, puzzled: "Miss Fu, does this have to be stuck on my forehead?"

Then she saw Fu Qiqi tilt her head in surprise: "You are actually smarter than Xiao Li."

Yue Yi was confused. Who was Xiao Li? It didn't matter to her, as long as she didn't have to play a zombie. But she added: "Will this yellow talisman hurt Grandpa?" She had seen enough horror movies to know what a yellow talisman was.

"It won't," Fu Qiqi explained. "You are a living person. Prolonged contact with ghosts can affect your health, so you need the yellow talisman."

"Oh, I see."

Yue Jianhong floated nearby, watching the two chat. His gaze lingered on Yue Yi, memorizing her quirky, spirited expression. The conversation passed quickly, and by the time Yue Yi looked ahead, they had arrived at a village. It was a small village nestled under mountains on three sides, wreathed in clouds and mist.

"Wow, this is a perfect place for retirement," Yue Yi marveled.

Yue Jianhong nodded along with her: "Indeed."

Seeing Fu Qiqi flipping through a small notebook, Yue Yi leaned in curiously: "Miss Fu, is this an account book? Where did you buy it? It’s so pretty." It was a very thick book that she struggled to hold with both hands. Its cover looked like it was wrapped in tree bark, and the pages were the color of tree rings.

Fu Qiqi flipped to a specific page from memory and found a name. She chuckled: "You wouldn't like it." Keeping track of a ten-million-debt account—whoever ended up with it was truly cursed.

"Then I don't want it." It was always right to listen to Miss Fu. The "Yan Shu" book, also known as the book of vengeful ghosts, contained records of debts; if they weren't repaid, it was said that terrible disasters would follow.

Fu Qiqi took a quick look and shoved it back into her cloth bag, her impression of Wen Yanfeng dropping significantly. Feeling helpless, she asked Yue Jianhong: "Ghosts cannot enter Baize Village. Can you possess someone?"

Yue Jianhong withdrew his gaze from the village—no wonder he felt uncomfortable. He looked troubled: "I'm not sure. How does possession work?"

Fu Qiqi held a yellow talisman between two fingers: "Come in."

Before the grandfather and granddaughter could even react, they saw Yue Jianhong dissolve into smoke and drill into the paper—or more accurately, he was sucked in.

Yue Yi’s eyes widened: "Po... Pokémon!"

Fu Qiqi folded the talisman repeatedly and asked curiously: "What is a Pokémon?"

"Oh, it's a memory from my childhood. I can recommend it to you if you want to see it, Miss Fu." Yue Yi hung her head, feeling dejected. Her grandpa had just been sucked in, just like that. It was absurd. But then again, since she could see ghosts, Miss Fu was even more absurdly powerful.

Fu Qiqi was clearly interested in the childhood memories Yue Yi mentioned and kept asking about them until they reached the village entrance.

The sound of "baa-baa" rang out, and their path was blocked.

"Outsiders?" A middle-aged man holding a bamboo stick stood at the village entrance. He was surrounded by a flock of sheep, and the air was thick with an indescribable odor. He squinted at the two who had arrived uninvited, his eyes filled with suspicion.

Yue Yi relied on Fu Qiqi for help, but she was still mindful of etiquette. Before she could speak, Fu Qiqi stepped forward. She held a piece of paper, identical to those in the Yan Shu book.

"Fu Qiqi, the current head of Fuyun Taoist Temple, is here to visit the village chief."

Yue Yi keenly noticed that the middle-aged man, who had been somewhat hostile, instantly beamed, his face transforming into that of a welcoming local.

"Head of the temple! The village chief lives at the tenth house straight down this path."

"Very well." Fu Qiqi stood tall, her hands behind her back, balancing the flowerpot: "Hurry up and follow."

Yue Yi followed along, sharp enough to notice the intense, lingering gaze the middle-aged man kept fixed on them. Only when the gaze finally vanished did she relax and ask: "Miss Fu, where exactly is your Taoist temple?" She was mostly curious why the man's demeanor had changed so drastically—and excitedly—upon hearing the name Fuyun Taoist Temple.

"If you wish to offer incense, I will send you the location when we return." Fu Qiqi walked in front with the flowerpot, having apparently discarded the cardboard box somewhere.

"Okay." Yue Yi agreed. She had received Miss Fu’s help, so offering incense was the least she could do. She looked up: "This must be the village chief's house."

It was the tenth house. The front door was open, and she could see chicks pecking at grain and geese darting around the yard. But there was no one in sight.

Just then, the roar of a motorcycle engine grew louder. Dust filled the air as the bike screeched to a halt outside the house. Bai Zekai stepped onto the ground with one foot, steadying the bike with one hand while using the other to remove his helmet in what he assumed was a cool gesture, smiling toward Fu Qiqi.

"Master, why did you come by yourself?"

Yue Yi: "???" What did he mean by "by yourself"? Wasn't she a person! However, seeing that the two clearly knew each other, she wisely kept her complaints to herself.

Fu Qiqi looked away from the village chief's house and settled her gaze on Bai Zekai, looking faintly repulsed: "If only you could change into a color that isn't so drab."

Drab? Bai Zekai’s smile froze. He looked down at his black motorcycle gear. It wasn't particularly flashy, but it was a very common style. Where was it drab? He looked at Fu Qiqi's attire and rubbed his ears, feeling awkward. He had to hold it in; he couldn't laugh. So, in the Master's eyes, bright, flashy colors were the height of fashion.

"You brat! I told you not to ride that motorcycle, are you deaf or—"