Chapter 38 Treating Money Like Dust

The trail seems to have gone cold.

But since he was only staying here for one last night anyway, and was checking out to go to the ghost market tomorrow, he figured he could just bear with it and it would pass; there was no need for him to make a fuss.

But having already investigated the beginnings, he had no reason to give up.

My grandfather taught me to finish what I start, so I quickly resolved this matter.

"I guess I'm just unlucky," he muttered, finding a reason for his meddling.

Xie Xun returned to his room and, looking at the female ghost who had been sobbing all day in the corner, decided to try a different approach. Since he couldn't get any answers from the innkeeper, perhaps he could try in another direction.

He went downstairs to a nearby internet cafe and tried to search for old news about the hotel.

After filtering through a lot of useless information, an article posted on a local history enthusiast forum caught his attention. The article was titled "In Memory of My Maternal Grandmother, Ms. Lin Xiuying, and Her Close Friend, Zhu Wanjun".

Xie Xun's brow twitched, and he clicked on the article.

The author claims to be Lin Xiuying's grandson, and the article details a long-forgotten story.

In her youth, Lin Xiuying, the maternal grandmother, and her friend Zhu Wanjun shared the same ideals and agreed to study abroad together.

However, on the eve of their departure, Zhu Wanjun tragically died in an accident at the inn where they were staying. Lin Xiuying was devastated, but knowing that staying was pointless, she embarked on her journey alone, carrying their shared dreams and their boat tickets.

More importantly, Lin Xiuying never forgot her dear friend while she was away.

Later, she resolutely joined the rear support forces for the War of Resistance against Japan and devoted herself to the cause of saving the country. After the victory of the War of Resistance, she managed to find Wan Jun's hastily buried remains and gave them a proper burial.

For decades afterward, she quietly cared for and supported Zhu Wanjun's elderly parents as their daughter until they passed away peacefully.

Lin Xiuying herself enjoyed a peaceful old age surrounded by her children and grandchildren, and passed away peacefully not long ago at the age of nearly 100.

According to her family, she often thought of Wan Jun in her later years, saying, "In my life, I am fortunate to have met such a close friend as Wan Jun, which is my greatest blessing. I only hope that she has long been freed from the turmoil and separation in the next life."

As Xie Xun downloaded the article and slowly relayed it to the female ghost, the sobbing gradually stopped.

A relieved smile appeared on her face as she transformed into specks of firefly light and vanished into the air.

The last ray of light drifted to Xie Xun's wrist, and a warm current instantly flowed through his entire body. The fatigue and lingering pain from the past few days vanished, and he felt refreshed, as if he had slept for three days straight.

"Tsk, she's quite generous. She left you with her last bit of soul power, and it's so pure and untainted."

Fu Qinghuai suddenly leaned closer and gently sniffed the side of his neck, "Smells so good~"

"My Xunxun is indeed welcomed by ghosts."

"..."

Xie Xun was speechless and couldn't be bothered to pay him any attention.

Thanks to the nourishment of that pure soul power, there were no more ghostly wails at night, and he had a rare good rest on the last night, without being disturbed by any noise or yin energy.

The next morning, as dawn broke, Xie Xun got up feeling refreshed, packed a few things, and checked out of the house.

Then, as agreed, he came to Liu Xiuyuan's teahouse again.

Inside the tea room, Liu Xiuyuan was all ready, while Ah Can, dressed in a neat tracksuit with bright eyes and a bulging backpack on his back, stood beside him.

Upon seeing Xie Xun enter, he enthusiastically approached Xie Xun and began chatting with him.

"Brother Xie! You're here!"

His gaze fell on Fu Qinghuai, who was following behind Xie Xun. He paused for a moment, then gave him a polite, bright smile before continuing to chat with Xie Xun, "How have you been resting these past few days? I'm going to the Ghost Market with Master this time too..."

Fu Qinghuai didn't even glance at him, but A-Can kept pestering Xie Xun with those stupid things, so he could only follow Xie Xun closely.

When Ah-Can tried to put his arm around Xie-Xun's shoulder, Xie-Xun grabbed Ah-Can's waist, preventing Ah-Can from getting any closer.

When Ah-Can tried to come closer to talk to Xie-Xun, he rested his chin on Xie-Xun's shoulder, his peach blossom eyes shooting him several cold glares, his gaze icy and unapproachable.

However, Ah Can didn't care at all, or rather, he didn't feel like he was being targeted by Fu Qinghuai.

Carefree and completely unconcerned.

"Thank you, young friend. Ah Can will come along this time too, and he can help us out."

Seeing this, Master Liu chuckled and smoothed things over, "Ah Can, go and get the packet of cinnabar that I prepared."

After dismissing his apprentice, he stroked his beard meaningfully at Xie Xun, saying, "Young friend Xie's... aura is growing stronger every day."

He clearly attributed Fu Qinghuai's clinginess to Xie Xun entirely to the latter's effective management of his subordinates.

Moreover, Fu Qinghuai, who was raised by someone with power surpassing that of ghosts and gods, was himself an extraordinary cultivator.

Xie Xun didn't say anything, took the tea Liu Xiuyuan handed him, and took a sip.

"Master, shall we depart now?"

"Of course not."

Liu Xiuyuan smiled and waved his hand, signaling him to calm down. "The Ghost Market won't open until midnight when the Yin energy is at its peak, and the entrance isn't always in one place. We still need to make some preparations, and more importantly..."

He lowered his voice, his expression slightly grave, "This morning I received a strange request; the other party specifically asked for you."

Xie Xun raised an eyebrow, "Looking for me?"

He should be unknown in Hong Kong.

Liu Xiuyuan pushed the phone in front of Xie Xun; the screen displayed a chat interface.

"It was Wen Xubai's team who contacted us. They said Wen Xubai has recently encountered some scientifically inexplicable troubles, and happened to see the haunted house livestream from a few days ago..."

Xie Xun thought of the vastly different career paths of Wen Xubai and Lu Haowen, and said indifferently, "The gossip and scandals in the entertainment industry have nothing to do with me."

"That's what I thought too."

Liu Xiuyuan's expression turned serious, and he then pulled out several pictures from the chat history. "But look, something's very wrong with these things. Wen Xubai is showing clear signs of being harmed by borrowed luck, and..."

At this moment, Fu Qinghuai suddenly laughed, his eyes full of mockery, and lazily spoke.

"The entertainment industry is truly chaotic, with bad luck tricks mixed in and a touch of death."

Fu Qinghuai sat in the armchair, his black robes brushing the ground, and raised an eyebrow at Xie Xun, "Xunxun, you wouldn't suddenly have a change of heart and go save that Wen Xubai, would you?"

Xie Xun glanced at him, too lazy to pay him any attention, and returned his gaze to his phone screen.

The above are some photos sent by Wen Xubai's team, showing strange patterns faintly visible on the wrist, and eerie talismans that inexplicably appeared on the back of the bed and under the bed in the bedroom.

"The other party said that Wen Xubai has been fainting on set several times recently, and when he wakes up he is always in poor spirits, which has seriously affected his work."

Liu Xiuyuan added, "These strange things all started about half a month ago."

"I need to meet this person first."

Xie Xun pondered for a moment before finally continuing, "In a place he finds convenient and secluded. Otherwise, it would be inappropriate to accept it rashly."

Instead of immediately taking on the entire task, he decided to first contact the person involved, understand the specific situation, and then make a judgment.

After all, his most important goal right now is the Ghost Market. He needs to buy the life-saving artifact he desperately needs before thinking about anything else.

He didn't want to cause any unnecessary trouble. But if it really involved evil magic harming people, now that he knew about it, he couldn't just sit idly by.

Especially since this matter has many similarities to my own situation.

He began to suspect that the Xie family's generations of bad luck, and his own, were likely caused by someone else taking advantage of his misfortune.

Liu Xiuyuan nodded immediately, "That's easy to arrange, the other party is already prepared. As for the payment..."

No payment is required.

Xie Xun interrupted him, his voice calm yet undeniably authoritative, “If I decide to lend a helping hand, and the other party is grateful, they will give it to me willingly, not as a transactional reward.”

He thought of his father, who was cautious and prudent all his life. The only time he earned enough money to improve his life was by helping people with feng shui and identifying bad feng shui. However, less than half an hour after receiving the money, he was hit by an out-of-control truck on his way home and was left barely alive.

The person was rescued, but suffered a leg ailment as a result, and the stack of blood-stained banknotes disappeared without a trace.

He himself once didn't believe in superstitions.

Before taking over the paper craft shop, he tried to earn tuition fees with his rudimentary skills, but every time he got money, it would either mysteriously disappear or he would immediately encounter various accidents, squandering all the money he had earned.

The worst time was when he was robbed right in front of a bank and stabbed, nearly losing his life.

Each and every incident testifies to the cursed misfortune of the Xie family bloodline.

They can accept gifts, but they must never receive rewards through transactions, or they will suffer the consequences.

He was nearly hit by that truck as soon as he left the village; if it weren't for Fu Qinghuai, he might have ended up in the hospital. The reason he went to the ghost market was not only to buy things, but also to spend all his reward money.

These casual words, however, struck Liu Xiuyuan like a thunderbolt striking water.

His gaze toward Xie Xun was instantly filled with indescribable shock and admiration.

He truly deserves to be called a master of the esoteric arts. He regards money as dirt and does not get too involved in worldly affairs. Wouldn't it be a lowly thing to use magic to make a profit?

A gift is given willingly by the recipient and is a good deed; while a reward is a transaction and involves cause and effect.

Young friend Xie, you are only creating good karma without getting involved in cause and effect; what you are aiming for is great merit!

So young, yet so dedicated to upholding principles and cultivating diligently. Such mental fortitude… no wonder he can command a powerful protector like Fu Qinghuai!

This must be the descendant of some reclusive master!

The image of Xie Xun, who was poor and self-disciplined, yet quietly did good deeds and accumulated virtue, uncontrollably appeared in his mind.

I was even thinking of helping negotiate the payment, how utterly vulgar!

"Thank you, young friend... no, thank you, sir! I understand. Rest assured, I will convey these words to you verbatim."

The way he looked at Xie Xun was as if he were looking at a bodhisattva walking among mortals. "I admire your noble character, sir!"

Xie Xun: "..."