Yesterday, I lit a Yang fire for Shen Weiguo, and after a night had passed, his complexion had improved quite a bit.
But as Huang Jiu put it, he still looked sickly—clearly a man worn out by overindulgence in wine and women.
Shen Weiguo was visibly downcast. Since he was just a college student, I told Huang Jiu to stop teasing him. Then I grabbed a small dustpan and broom and assigned Huang Jiu to clean the shop.
Once we sat down, Shen Weiguo urgently asked me, "Master Li, how is Shishi? I want to see her."
I sneered. "You're on the brink of death, and you're still thinking about someone else?"
Shen Weiguo gave me a miserable look. "I thought it over all night. I feel like I can't live without her."
I was speechless.
If tragic love stories were only the stuff of legend, Shen Weiguo seemed ready to turn one into reality. If I hadn't interfered, I had no doubt he would've reenacted it himself.
Seeing that I said nothing, Shen Weiguo grabbed my hand and said, "Shishi was my first love, and my first woman, I—"
I wasn't a relationship counselor, and even if I were, I probably couldn't talk him out of it. So I stood up and said, "Go get some breakfast, get your energy back, and come back here—I'll light the other two Yang fires for you."
Shen Weiguo wanted to say more, but I pushed him out the door.
Seeing him turn back every few steps, I muttered, "I better give Director Qian a heads-up. Something might go wrong."
Huang Jiu said, "Why bother? Just do what you're supposed to."
That might be true, but it's said that while debts of money can be repaid, debts of gratitude are harder to settle.
Grandpa was right—we in this line of work shouldn't get too involved with ordinary people.
About half an hour later, Shen Weiguo returned.
After breakfast, his complexion had improved again. The morning sunlight streamed through the doorway. I had him stand in the sunlight and used my Daoist energy to ignite the final two Yang fires on him.
Thanks to the fire seeds and the auspicious energy of the rising sun, I only used up half of my Dao energy and didn't feel too drained.
After catching my breath, I shut the rolling door and blocked the windows. I pulled out the Blood Thorn and released Shishi.
The moment the two met, tears welled up in their eyes. Their hands seemed glued together, unwilling to part, gazing at each other affectionately, too overwhelmed to speak.
I said, "You've got half an hour. Say what you need to."
Then I went into the back room and opened the shop owned by Song the Lame through the rear door.
Song the Lame had been gone for a few days. I was a bit worried.
That night, the man in the hemp robe didn't seem like a normal person. Who knew what might have happened?
I grabbed a feather duster and lightly dusted the urns on display. Once the tidying was done, the timing was just right.
I returned through the back door to find Shen Weiguo and Shishi still holding hands.
But the sorrow had left Shen Weiguo's face. He smiled and said, "Master Li, Shishi and I have decided—I'll wait for her to be reincarnated!"
I did a quick calculation—Shen Weiguo was thirty. Even if Shishi reincarnated immediately, it'd be a May-December romance. I couldn't help but rub my nose awkwardly.
Shishi said, "Master Li, after I'm reborn, can you help Shen Lang find me?"
I could see her ghostly tears, so locating her later wouldn't be hard.
But I reminded them, "I don't know much about reincarnation either, but it's said that after being reborn, people forget their past lives, so…"
Before I could finish, Shishi said firmly, "I will definitely remember Shen Lang."
Shen Weiguo nodded vigorously in agreement.
Since they'd made up their minds, I didn't argue further. "I'll ask Wang Shukun at noon to recommend a temple. Then we'll send Shishi for transcendence."
Shen Weiguo said, "Master Li, if you're busy, I can take her to Longquan Temple myself."
I frowned slightly, feeling uneasy.
Shen Weiguo quickly explained, "Shishi and I already agreed not to cling to this incomplete love. Besides, sending her off personally will help me remember her even more deeply."
He was such a hopeless romantic that I worried he'd do something drastic if I refused.
To prevent them from clinging again, I had Shishi swear an oath.
If she lingered in the human world again, or entangled herself with Shen Weiguo after reincarnation, she would never be reborn.
Without hesitation, Shishi raised her hand and swore the oath.
With that, I had no reason to refuse.
I went into the back room and brought out a talisman. After sealing its power, I had Shishi attach herself to it.
Shen Weiguo left behind 10,000 yuan and walked out joyfully with the yellow talisman.
As soon as he left, Huang Jiu rushed over and split the money on the table in half.
I was speechless.
Damn it—a weasel who's better at accounting than people.
Still, since Huang Xian'er was still in the city, as a male, it wouldn't look right for him to have no money.
Besides, even if I didn't split it with him, I'd still be footing the bill for all of Huang Xian'er's food and expenses.
At noon, I bought two boxes of milk and took a cab to the museum.
I originally wanted Huang Jiu to buy a couple of good bottles of liquor, but once he saw the prices, he refused, saying that giving expensive gifts would tarnish Director Qian's reputation.
He wasn't wrong—when Director Qian saw me carrying milk, he smiled and accepted it gladly.
Had I brought fancy liquor, he probably would've scowled and kicked me out.
However, when he saw the bronze mirror, Director Qian's face darkened instantly, making both Huang Jiu and me afraid to even breathe.
Huang Jiu nudged me a couple of times, and I nervously said, "Director Qian, I really am sorry about this."
The old director kept staring at the mirror without saying a word.
I had no choice but to explain, "This mirror was originally used by a Demon Slayer to seal evil. The character '诛' is their mark. No matter what method is used, breaking the seal will always cause these cracks to appear."
Director Qian still said nothing.
Huang Jiu nudged me again, signaling that we should just leave.
But leaving now would feel inappropriate.
So I changed the subject. "I've already lit the Yang fires for Shen Weiguo. He wants to personally send Shishi to be transcended. Please keep an eye on him—I'm worried he might have some psychological issues."
"Understood," Director Qian finally said when I mentioned Shen Weiguo.
Relieved, I stood up quickly. "Director Qian, I'll let you get back to work. We won't disturb you any longer."
Just as I reached the door, I paused, turned back, and said, "Director Qian, if anything like this ever happens at the museum again, you can call on me. I won't charge you."
Director Qian didn't respond.
I figured after this incident, he probably wouldn't ask me for help again.
Once I walked out the museum doors, I let out a long breath.
I was just about to grab a bite and head home when my phone rang—it was a number I didn't recognize.
When I picked up, it was Song the Lame.
He said an old customer had come to the shop and asked me to handle it.
I was stunned.
Who would've thought that someone selling such items could have repeat customers?