"Master, they are only in their early forties, they should have their own lives. I don't want them to become like this because of me, but I can't help them, Master…"
The female ghost's soul had become somewhat transparent, drifting aimlessly. Xu Zifan frowned and said, "If you don't reincarnate soon, your soul will be scattered."
The female ghost cried, "I can't rest easy, I really can't rest easy, Master, please help me."
Xu Zifan thought for a moment and said, "Alright, it just so happens that my little apprentice hasn't graduated yet, so it's time to find something for him to practice on."
Jiang Tianxin returned just in time to hear this, "Master, what are you saying?"
The female ghost instantly floated behind Xu Zifan, her cries becoming even more pitiful, "Master, why are you staying with her? The yang energy around her is too terrifying, can you please stop her from going?"
Xu Zifan shrugged. "There's no other way. I have to bring her along if I'm going to help. Otherwise, I won't go."
"Well, alright then, this way please, Master." The female ghost carefully maintained her distance from Jiang Tianxin, and floated past her towards the door.
Jiang Tianxin looked around warily, adopted a defensive posture, and frowned, saying, "Master, is there something unclean here? Are you talking to a ghost?"
"Yes, relax." Xu Zifan walked ahead with his hands behind his back and said, "Bring everything. We're going to visit the female ghost's family. Oh, the female ghost is the one who was hit and killed by the truck driver."
Jiang Tianxin immediately realized what was happening, grabbed a backpack, and packed the yellow talisman paper, cinnabar, pen, peach wood sword, and several pieces of jade from the study into it. After making sure there was nothing left, she quickly ran to the garage to drive her car.
Xu Zifan stood at the door waiting. The black cat's spirit jumped onto his shoulder and let out a mournful meow. The resentment emanating from it made the female ghost tremble with fear.
Xu Zifan took the black cat down and hugged it, saying to the female ghost, "Don't be afraid, it won't eat you."
The female ghost was even more frightened upon hearing this and drifted far away.
Xu Zifan chuckled and said, "You little rascal, you scared them half to death."
The black cat meowed again, and Xu Zifan said helplessly, "You think I'm always with my little apprentice? I can't help it. I'll be more unlucky if I'm with you, right? I have to go out on business now. Come with me, otherwise you might run into someone else and cause trouble."
The black cat meowed obediently a few times in response, then jumped onto his shoulder and lay there lazily.
When Jiang Tianxin drove the car over, the female ghost and the black cat hid in the trunk, trying to get as far away from her as possible.
On the way, Xu Zifan asked the female ghost some questions and learned that her name was Chen Yuling. She and her parents came from a mountain village to make a living. Their family was only of average means, but their life had always been very stable. If it weren't for her sudden accident, their family would probably be very happy.
The truck driver was convicted these past two days. Although the female ghost felt that a ten-year sentence was too lenient, she was somewhat comforted that he had to compensate her parents with 600,000 yuan. So she decided to visit her parents before returning to the underworld.
When she met her parents, she learned that the culprit's conviction was like the last breath being taken from them, and nothing could support them anymore. They stayed at home day and night looking at her photos, tears streaming down their faces, as if they had lost all will to live.
Chen Yuling is a spirit, and encountering them will only make them sick and unlucky. She was desperate and wanted to ask the police for help, but the police had strong yang energy and she couldn't get close to them or communicate with them. Fortunately, Liu Zi went to find Jiang Tianxin, who discovered the master she had met once before, and that's how she got help from Xu Zifan.
The man who opened the door for them was Chen's father, a man in his early forties with a hunched back, a face full of sorrow, and numb eyes. He looked at the two of them and said in a hoarse voice, "Who are you looking for?"
Jiang Tianxin showed him her identification. "Mr. Chen, my name is Jiang Tianxin. I was in charge of investigating your daughter's case. Mr. Chen, we have some things we'd like to discuss with you both. Is now a convenient time?"
"You must be Captain Jiang?" Mr. Chen finally showed some emotion, extending both hands to shake hers, and said gratefully, "Thank you so much. The police told us that you were the one who discovered that beast hit my daughter. If it weren't for you, he would have gotten away with it. Thank you so much."
Jiang Tianxin quickly said, "Mr. Chen, you're too kind. Actually, it wasn't me who discovered it; it was my master. This is my master, Daoist Qingfeng. Mr. Chen, would it be convenient for us to go inside and talk? There are some things that aren't suitable for others to hear."
"Convenient, convenient." Mr. Chen looked at Xu Zifan with some doubt, not quite understanding why the police would bring a Taoist priest to the door, but he still immediately invited them in and called his wife out to greet the guests.
Chen's mother looked haggard; her eyes and hair had lost their luster, like a flower about to wither. Chen Yuling stood far away from them, covering her mouth and crying.
Xu Zifan felt a little suffocated by her mournful cries, and after a moment's consideration, he decided to get straight to the point.
"Mr. Chen, Mrs. Chen, I am here today on behalf of your daughter."
Mr. and Mrs. Chen's eyes widened instantly as they stared intently at him. "What... what does this mean?"
Xu Zifan explained, "You were so grief-stricken by the loss of your daughter that you were contemplating suicide. Your daughter couldn't bear to leave you and refused to be reincarnated."
He pointed to the cabinet in the distance, "She's right there. She was heartbroken to see you like this and cried. She asked me to tell you that she has just been reincarnated to start a new life. She hopes you can let go of your grief, use the compensation money to buy a small house, settle down, and live a good life. Don't keep thinking about her."
Chen's mother suddenly stood up and ran to the cabinet, "My dear, my dear, are you really back?"
Have you come to see Mom?
Startled, Chen Yuling quickly floated away. She saw her mother searching frantically around the cabinet, crying and calling her name. Between sobs, she nodded, "I'm back, Mom, don't cry, Mom..."
Mr. Chen walked over in a daze, supported Mrs. Chen, and choked out, "Does a soul really exist? Is my little girl really here? Little girl, come out and see your parents, just one last time, Daddy misses you so much..."
Chen Yuling collapsed to the ground, covering her face and sobbing, "Master, please persuade them! I'm unfilial, I can't take care of them, and I've made them sad. I don't know what to do, Master..."
Xu Zifan sighed, "Don't cry. I understand your sadness, but you have to accept it and not let it overwhelm you. Don't forget there are other things in life worth seeing. If you keep crying like this, Chen Yuling won't be able to reincarnate. Are you willing to let that happen?"
This process is difficult, but even if you die together now and are reincarnated with your daughter, you'll be strangers in the next life. It's better to live well; at least you'll still be together as husband and wife, and you can still remember your daughter together, right?
Jiang Tianxin went over and hugged Chen's mother, gently patted her back, helped her back to the sofa, and softly comforted her, "Chen Yuling went through a lot of trouble to find my master. She's so filial, she just wants you all to be well. But if she stays in the mortal world any longer, she won't have a chance to be reincarnated. I believe you don't want to see that happen, right?"
The most important thing now is to perform a proper rite of passage for Chen Yuling, to send her off peacefully, so she can leave in peace, right?
Chen's mother nodded repeatedly, "I didn't know where my daughter's spirit would be... She must be very worried about us. It's our fault. Our child has encountered such a big thing, and we two old people still make her worry." She grabbed Jiang Tianxin and asked anxiously, "My daughter can be reincarnated, right? She can have a happy family in her next life, right?"
Jiang Tianxin looked at Xu Zifan, who said truthfully, "I can send her to be reincarnated, but how she is reborn is determined by the underworld based on her life story, which is not something we can help with. But as far as I know, Chen Yuling has not committed any sins in her life. On the contrary, she often rescues small animals and has some merit. She should have no problem living a good life after being reborn as a human. As for her family, we can't guess."
Jiang Tianxin had a sudden inspiration and asked, "If Mr. and Mrs. Chen do more good deeds in the future, will it also bring good fortune to Chen Yuling?"
Xu Zifan understood what she meant and gave an affirmative answer, "Yes, the blessings from her parents' deep love will fall upon her, no matter where she is."
Mr. and Mrs. Chen seemed to suddenly regain their spirits, and repeatedly promised, "We will do more good deeds and ask the master to teach us how we can help our daughter. We are willing to shorten our own lifespan."
Chen Yuling was a little anxious, but Xu Zifan waved his hand and shook his head. "You must never treat others well by abusing yourselves. Your daughter's greatest wish is for you to live out the rest of your lives in peace. Only when you are safe, healthy, and living comfortably can she truly feel at ease."
"Alright, take me to Chen Yuling's grave. I'll perform a ritual to send her to the afterlife, to send her away first. The living and the dead are separated; it's not good for her to linger in the mortal world. If someone accidentally touches her, that person will fall ill and suffer misfortune, which could easily burden her with debt."
Upon hearing this, the two were eager to resolve the matter. However, Mr. Chen said with difficulty, "Our hometown is in a mountain village. According to the tradition passed down from our ancestors, people should return to their roots after death. Master, could you come back with us?"
Chen's mother hurriedly said, "We can fly to the city closest to the village and then hire a car to go back. It won't be too hard. Please, Master, please help us."
This wasn't a big deal, and Xu Zifan immediately agreed, asking Jiang Tianxin to inform the Jiang family. The matter was indeed urgent, so they took Chen Yuling's ashes that very day and headed to her hometown—Shan'ao Village.
Chen Yuling's soul entered the urn containing her ashes. Upon learning this, Chen's mother held the urn tightly the entire way, as if embracing her daughter, yet forcing a smile and holding back tears, afraid of worrying her. Chen's father did the same, always by his wife and daughter's side, a heartbreaking sight.
The first time Xu Zifan saw Jiang Tianxin's eyes were wet, although she quickly turned her head to look out the window, he still saw her wipe her eyes.
The pain of separation by death is always unbearable.
After a bumpy ride with reversing, and finally a long and rugged mountain road, they finally arrived at the village in the mountain valley. As soon as Xu Zifan entered the village, he felt a heavy aura of death. Jiang Tianxin, who was full of yang energy, felt even more uncomfortable and unwell after entering the village.
She cautiously looked around and asked Xu Zifan, "Master, is there something strange here?"
Xu Zifan nodded. "That's not quite right."
He took out a defensive jade pendant and a yellow talisman and gave them to her. "Wear this and never take it off. If you encounter danger, just tear this talisman and your master will come."