Officer Li escorted the dejected Duan Kefan away, and as he left, he waved the Fire Sign Order at Ju Ziyi.
Ju Ziyi slowly regained consciousness, still looking somewhat dazed.
“What just happened?”
The Fire Sign Order could determine the fate of a living soul, making the person feel as if they had just woken from a deep dream.
The eerie scenes they had witnessed moments ago now seemed like fragments of a dream, dissipating into thin air.
“Nothing much,” Shi Pengpeng said with a smile.
“You just fell asleep.”
“Ah, really?” Ju Ziyi scratched her head in confusion, feeling a bit embarrassed.
“I must have been exhausted from running around so much today…”
“Indeed, you’ve had a long day,” Shi Pengpeng replied, not wanting to waste any more time.
“Please contact the property owner for me. I want to buy the house.”
“What?!” Ju Ziyi blinked in surprise.
“Are you serious? Don’t you want to think about it some more?”
Shi Pengpeng shook her head.
“No need.”
Yan Jing added calmly, “Tell the owner that if he’s willing to lower the price a bit more, we can consider paying in full.”
From the information they had just heard, Fang Zhenghao’s financial situation was already very tight.
A full payment would allow him to recover his funds quickly, and he would surely be willing to make further concessions.
Hearing this, Shi Pengpeng glanced at him slowly and silently gave him a thumbs-up.
In terms of magic, she was his teacher.
But in the business world, she still had much to learn from him.
Ju Ziyi didn’t try to dissuade them further.
She had already done her duty by reminding them, and it would be impolite to dampen their enthusiasm.
She nodded excitedly, “Alright, alright, alright.”
When she had first received Shi Pengpeng’s commission, Ju Ziyi hadn’t been very optimistic about the young woman actually closing the deal.
After all, the requirements were quite unusual.
If it hadn’t been for Shi Pengpeng’s repeated assurances, Ju Ziyi might have suspected that she was just acting on a whim or trying to create content for her video channel.
Ju Ziyi never expected that Shi Pengpeng would close the deal on her very first house viewing, and it was the notoriously difficult haunted house, Luo Jin Mingzhu.
Selling this property would not only boost her reputation in the high-end residential sector but also earn her a commission that could match her entire income from the previous year.
Ju Ziyi quickly called Fang Zhenghao.
When he heard that someone was finally willing to take the property off his hands, he was overjoyed.
Upon learning that the buyer could pay in full, he agreed to lower the price further.
Ju Ziyi didn’t disappoint Shi Pengpeng either.
She skillfully negotiated back and forth, showcasing the professional expertise she had honed over more than a decade.
In the end, she convinced Fang Zhenghao to lower the price by another 500,000, and the deal was closed at 9.5 million.
Both parties were eager to finalize the transaction, fearing that the other might back out.
The process moved quickly, and the contract was signed that very evening at Ju Ziyi’s company office.
All that was left was to complete the formal transfer of ownership once the workweek began.
After signing the contract, Fang Zhenghao was filled with mixed emotions.
The property had been a source of constant trouble for months, ultimately causing him to lose over 10 million.
The money he had accumulated over years of flipping properties was now almost entirely gone.
But at least he had managed to sell it.
If he had waited until his financial chain broke, he wouldn’t just be losing money he might have ended up buried in debt.
As Fang Zhenghao stepped out of the real estate agency and headed to his car, Shi Pengpeng, who had followed him out, called out, “Mr. Fang, wait a moment.”
Fang Zhenghao stopped his movements and asked nervously, “Is there anything else?”
Please don’t let her back out now!
Shi Pengpeng approached and said, “I wanted to ask, who did you buy the online course from on Cat Paw?”
“What?” Fang Zhenghao was momentarily stunned before he realized what she meant, his mouth hanging open in surprise.
“You… you… how did you know?”
Shi Pengpeng smiled slightly, her expression meaningful.
“If I didn’t know these things, how could I dare to buy your house?”
Fang Zhenghao:”…..”
Only then did he understand he had encountered an expert.
However, this realization actually made him feel relieved.
Seeing her so confident, at least he didn’t have to worry about her backing out before the transfer.
As for her later discovering that the malevolent spirit couldn’t be driven away, that would no longer be his concern.
Fang Zhenghao quickly gave Shi Pengpeng the account of the blogger who sold the online course, and Shi Pengpeng immediately forwarded it to Yan Jing.
Tracking the source of the online course would take some time, so before that, Shi Pengpeng made a call to a teacher at the Liangyi Academy.
From the information revealed by Mr. Li, it seemed that the school’s faculty had been quite busy recently.
Shi Pengpeng felt it was necessary to touch base with the school and also get an update on the current situation in the underworld.
Unexpectedly, upon contacting them, she found out that a teacher from the Liangyi Academy had just arrived in Xiluo and was planning to meet with Shi Pengpeng.
After some discussion, they decided to meet on Sunday at Xiao Lingshu’s Yuanyi Temple.
After setting the time, the teacher also mentioned Yan Jing, hoping to have a chance to discuss the matter of the Unwithering Bone with him.
Upon hearing this, Yan Jing naturally expressed that he happened to be free on Sunday and could pick up Shi Pengpeng, while also checking in on his “big son” junior brother.
Shi Pengpeng couldn’t help but express her confusion, “When did you and Xiao Lingshu become so close?”
“Our relationship is just average,” Yan Jing admitted honestly, with a look of affection on his face.
“But in Xiluo, he only has you and me as family. I feel I should care for him a bit more.”
Shi Pengpeng couldn’t help but remind him, “Nonsense, he also has an aunt in Xiluo.”
The next day, Shi Pengpeng and Yan Jing arrived at Yuanyi Temple on time.
The two had attended the temple’s opening ceremony once before, but after getting caught up in the affairs of Longevity Island, they had been too busy to return.
They had initially thought this small temple was rather unremarkable, with Xiao Lingshu looking too young and sporting a fashionable perm, not at all like a trustworthy Taoist priest.
They assumed the temple’s business wouldn’t be doing well.
To their surprise, upon entering, the temple was bustling with visitors and worshippers coming and going.
Shi Pengpeng: ?
Does my junior brother really have such a talent for running a temple?
However, after observing for a while, she understood.
It turned out that more than half of these visitors were there to take photos with the Nian Beast and the E Beast in the courtyard.
The Nian Beast and E Beast’s transformed forms were incredibly cute and seemed to understand human nature.
Unbeknownst to them, they had gained quite a reputation in the scenic area, especially among photography enthusiasts.
As for the remaining worshippers, they were using various excuses to have Xiao Lingshu perform divinations and interpret their fortune sticks, while also trying to get his WeChat.
…It seems that while my junior brother’s image as a Taoist priest might be average, as a somewhat handsome trendy guy, he’s quite popular among young female visitors.
Xiao Lingshu was in the middle of interpreting a fortune stick when he saw his senior sister and Yan Jing.
He quickly hung up a “temporarily away” sign and came over to greet them: “Dad, Mom…”
“Meow, you guys finally made it! I heard about what happened in Biannan and was so worried. Thank goodness you’re all safe. Do you have any idea how I’ve been these past few days?”
Shi Pengpeng: “…KWAI.”
In such a public place, what kind of behavior is this?
If the believers heard, they might think they were up to some strange play!
Yan Jing remained composed, took out his phone, and scanned the temple’s QR code to transfer 200 yuan and said: “Long time no see. As a father, I’ll support your endeavors.”
Xiao Lingshu was moved and exclaimed, “This is the love of a father, as solid as a mountain. I hereby declare you the best father I have in Xiluo…”
Shi Pengpeng couldn’t help but laugh at this heartwarming scene and shot Yan Jing a sideways glance:
“Why only give him money? I’m also a member of Yuan Yi Temple.”
“Got it.” Yan Jing obliged and promptly transferred 200 yuan to her as well.
“Family members, everyone gets a share.”
“Yay!” Shi Pengpeng cheered.
“I’ll treat you to milk tea later.”
Yan Jing smiled: “Sure.”
Shi Pengpeng then inquired about the temple’s situation, teasing, “Junior brother, you’re doing great, managing the temple so well!”
“Don’t mention it.” Xiao Lingshu’s face fell, and his tone became unusually subdued.
“My family found out.”
Shi Pengpeng knew his family had always opposed him becoming a Taoist priest, especially since he was self-funding the temple.
She imagined there must have been quite a battle at home and sighed, “So, are they still against it?”
“No.” Xiao Lingshu shook his head.
“This time, they’re very supportive.”
Shi Pengpeng: ?
Shi Pengpeng thought she misheard.
“Your family agreed to you being a Taoist priest?”
“Not exactly. After my mom found out I opened a temple, she flew over to drag me back to inherit the family business.” Xiao Lingshu’s expression was complicated.
“But after she arrived and saw so many girls coming to the temple for divination, she changed her mind on the spot and told me to keep it up…”
Shi Pengpeng immediately understood and couldn’t help but laugh.
After a moment of thought, she said, “Actually, it’s not that bad… Oh, haha. Well, you can be a ‘fire-dwelling Taoist priest.’ “
Taoist priests don’t necessarily have to live in seclusion.
For example, the Zhengyi sect allows priests to practice at home, marry, and have children.
This tradition is known as “fire-dwelling Taoist priests” or “scattered-dwelling Taoist priests.”
As long as one upholds the Taoist faith, it’s possible to practice while living a secular life.
“Sigh, we’ll see.” Xiao Lingshu looked exhausted.
“I don’t have any worldly desires right now…”
Shi Pengpeng patted his shoulder: “But I see you’ve added quite a few WeChat contacts.”
“It’s all for the development of Yuan Yi Temple…” Xiao Lingshu put on a pitiful expression, as if sacrificing himself for the temple, and was about to continue complaining when Shi Pengpeng’s eyes suddenly lit up: “Teacher!”
At the entrance walked in a middle-aged woman around forty, with her hair tied up in a bun, wearing a gray tracksuit, and carrying a huge backpack.
She was Yin Cong, the magic teacher from Liangyi Academy.
“Pengpeng.” Yin Cong’s eyes curved into a smile as she opened her arms and gave Shi Pengpeng a big hug.
“Teacher! Long time no see, I…” Xiao Lingshu also stepped forward enthusiastically, but before he could finish, Yin Cong immediately raised her index finger and made a “shush” gesture:
“Don’t speak.”
Xiao Lingshu: “…”
Xiao Lingshu protested, “Teacher, you have a stereotype about me. Ever since I started working, I’ve been exhausted every day, and I don’t talk as much as I used to…”
Yin Cong felt her head buzzing and quickly glanced at Shi Pengpeng.
Understanding the hint, Shi Pengpeng punched Xiao Lingshu on the head, “Shut up and lead the way.”
“Oh, okay.”
Reluctantly, Xiao Lingshu stopped complaining and led them to the lounge.
After sitting down, Yin Cong and Shi Pengpeng exchanged a few pleasantries before getting to the point.
“That matter about the evil deity… the underworld has reached a conclusion,” Yin Cong said.
At the Nanling Palace, Shi Pengpeng had discovered that the true identity of the evil deity statue was actually a righteous deity.
Afterward, the Xuanmen collectively petitioned heaven and earth, demanding a thorough investigation.
The realms of yin and yang are interdependent; humans rely on deities for peace, and deities depend on human spirituality.
When such an incident occurs, even the separation of yin and yang cannot be used as an excuse.
The underworld had to give the Xuanmen an explanation.
Shi Pengpeng, knowing the gravity of the situation, couldn’t help but feel nervous and asked, “So, that deity is…?”
Yin Cong’s expression turned solemn, “He is a Gongcao Shi (a historical official of merit) from a certain region.”
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.