After a while, Yin Cong arrived.
She brought two pieces of news.
“The Underworld has reached a verdict regarding your damaged spiritual meridians,” Yin Cong said, looking at Shi Pengpeng.
Shi Pengpeng asked, “What’s the decision?”
Yin Cong handed her an official document:
“The divine status of the Merit Officer will be stripped and transferred to you as compensation.”
Shi Pengpeng remained silent, but Xiao Lingshu exclaimed first, “Wow! Using divine status for repair? That’s an incredible boost!!!”
The others reacted differently:
“Not bad,” Yan Jing said, lightly tapping the table with his index finger, appearing somewhat reluctant to accept it.
“But Pengpeng deserves this.”
Xiao Lingshu rushed to Shi Pengpeng’s side and began chattering, “Senior sister, your weakened state might not handle such a strong supplement. Maybe we should set up an altar now, burn incense, pray to heaven and earth, and share some of the Merit Officer’s divine status with me…”
“Get lost,” Shi Pengpeng waved him away dismissively, as if shooing ducks.
“Do you think this is pork at the market, to be divided so casually?”
With that, she unfolded the yellow document and examined it carefully.
The document was written by the Underworld through the Mystic Sect’s hand, bearing the seals of both yin and yang, faintly imbued with spiritual power.
Repairing spiritual meridians was typically a lengthy process, but using divine status was different-it meant gaining the combined power of heaven and earth, the shared magic of yin and yang.
This implied that not only would Shi Pengpeng’s meridians fully recover, but they would also gradually strengthen over time.
Moreover, if her cultivation continued to advance, she might one day achieve perfection.
“Thank you, Teacher,” Shi Pengpeng said, carefully storing the document and bowing solemnly once more.
“Don’t mention it,” Yin Cong replied with a smile.
“The Merit Officer’s divine status was shattered by you in the first place. Using it to repair your meridians is just karma coming full circle.”
“Sigh, why don’t I ever get opportunities like this?” Xiao Lingshu grumbled, spinning around in frustration.
“Is it because I didn’t go to Southern Border to help besiege the Island of Longevity? You didn’t even notify me…”
Yin Cong expertly ignored Xiao Lingshu and moved on to the progress of the Yu Tian money laundering case.
The evidence chain for Yu Tian’s case was already quite clear, but with Hui Xi and several other coerced influencers actively cooperating and providing new insider information, the investigation had progressed much faster.
“That Meng Zhen you despise the most will probably spend the rest of his life on an assembly line,” Yin Cong told Shi Pengpeng.
According to the evidence provided by Hui Xi and others, Yu Tian Culture was involved not only in money laundering but also intimidation, forced compensated companionship, organizing illegal activities, bribery, and more.
Among these, Meng Zhen’s crimes were the most severe, guaranteeing him at least a decade behind bars.
“Well, at least he’ll learn a trade,” Shi Pengpeng remarked, having heard that prisons offered decent vocational training.
She then asked, “What about Ouyang Jue?”
He was the person they were most concerned about at the moment.
At the mention of Ouyang Jue, Yin Cong’s expression turned grave.
After Shi Pengpeng provided new leads, the task force adjusted their investigation approach, gathering experts from the Mystic Sect to analyze the mysteries surrounding Ouyang Jue from an arcane perspective.
With this more targeted investigation, they indeed discovered many anomalies about Ouyang Jue.
He had likely used some form of mystical art to conceal his true destiny, thereby confusing not only the police but also the judgments of both the mortal and spiritual realms.
To achieve such a feat required an extraordinarily high level of cultivation.
The Mystic Sect members still couldn’t fully decipher it and continued their magical duel with him.
However, Ouyang Jue seemed to have realized his secret techniques were being uncovered, becoming visibly more agitated and losing his previous composure.
Moreover, perhaps because his occult methods were gradually being unraveled, the police had indeed made more discoveries-finding some traces linking back to him.
At this rate, it probably wouldn’t be long before they uncovered Ouyang Jue’s incriminating evidence.
Just then, a small bat fluttered down from the rafters, flapping its wings as it asked, “Squeak-what about my daughter? Any news of my daughter?”
Xiao Lingshu looked at it with mixed feelings and said, “Sister Liu, there are no outsiders in the temple today. You can return to your true form.”
Normally, with the constant flow of visitors in the temple, Liu Ruyan-a graceful and slender young woman in appearance-wasn’t suitable to move about openly, so she usually took the form of a bat, hanging in the corners.
But now, there was no need for that.
After all, a bat speaking was even more inexplicable in a Taoist temple than a young woman residing there.
“Squeak.” The little bat flapped its wings and transformed into Liu Ruyan’s human form, looking eagerly at Yin Cong.
“No,” Yin Cong shook his head.
“The task force specifically investigated Ouyang Jue’s past immigration records but found no evidence of him ever bringing an infant or child into the country…”
Bringing an infant into the country required registration, so if he had indeed taken a child, there would have been records.
This could only mean one of two things: either there was no child, or the child had never been brought back to the country.
“Why? Why didn’t he bring the child back?” Liu Ruyan looked bewildered, then added, “Did he raise the child abroad?”
Yin Cong shook her head again: “That’s unclear.”
“Why did he steal my child in the first place? And why didn’t he keep the child with him? Why didn’t he raise it himself?”
As Liu Ruyan spoke, her fangs began to protrude again, as if she were about to fly off immediately to confront Ouyang Jue.
“Sister Liu, calm down,” Xiao Lingshu quickly handed her a cup of chilled pig’s blood.
“Here, have some vintage 1982 pig’s blood to cool off.”
Shi Pengpeng also advised, “Getting worked up won’t help now. Let’s wait for more news from the task force. Once Ouyang Jue’s dark arts are fully unraveled, the truth might come to light.”
“Fine, I’ll listen to you one more time.”
Liu Ruyan knew the Mystic Sect wouldn’t allow her to act recklessly again.
Expressionless, she downed the pig’s blood in one gulp and transformed back into a bat, hanging from the rafters again.
“Squeak-“
Noticing the somber atmosphere, Xiao Lingshu quickly changed the subject:
“Hey, speaking of which, someone contacted me online yesterday asking if I could perform grave divination. Apparently, former owners of Ouyang family’s abandoned properties are pooling funds to dig up the Ouyang ancestral…”
Shi Pengpeng raised an eyebrow: “There’s such a thing?”
“Yeah,” Xiao Lingshu said, showing them the chat logs.
After reading them, they all had a good laugh.
The Ouyang family had done plenty of unethical things during their early real estate ventures, and when times got tough, they’d set up shell companies to declare bankruptcy and abandon projects.
But back then, the Ouyang family was too powerful for victims to retaliate-perhaps also due to Ouyang Jue’s bizarre occult techniques, which left many unable to…
They were pinning all these rotten affairs on him.
Now that Yu Tian Culture was under investigation and Ouyang Jue could barely protect himself, past grievances were likely to be dredged up.
“What a pity I don’t know geomancy, otherwise I’d join in the fun,” Xiao Lingshu said with regret.
“You’d better be careful,” Shi Pengpeng warned.
While the grievances of the victimized homeowners were understandable, charging money to dig up ancestral graves was another matter entirely he might end up in trouble himself if he wasn’t careful.
After the conversation, the group got up to leave.
With nothing better to do, Xiao Lingshu saw them out to the edge of the scenic area.
Shi Pengpeng had come with Yan Jing in the same car, and now he was driving her back.
Seeing this, Xiao Lingshu immediately started chattering again:
“Ah, I always thought Brother Yan seemed so aloof, but now I see how considerate he is to you, Senior Sister. So, what’s your relationship now? Should I start calling him brother-in-law? And what about that love lock you and Zhao Xuantan put up should we replace his name with Brother Yan’s?”
Shi Pengpeng:”…Where do you get all these questions from?”
Xiao Lingshu: “I’m just nosy.”
Shi Pengpeng: “…”
Just as she was at a loss for how to respond, her phone conveniently rang-it was her grandfather, Ding Liushui.
Relieved, she stepped aside.
“I need to take this call.”
Xiao Lingshu caught on and stroked his chin.
“Brother, hasn’t Senior Sister agreed yet? No way, no way. You two are such a perfect match- talented man and beautiful woman, made for each other.”
“There’s no reason you shouldn’t be together. Maybe it’s just bad luck this year. How about performing a Taoist ritual at our Yuan Yi Temple? Since we’re so close, I’ll give you a 20% discount…”
“You even offer that kind of service?” Yan Jing side-eyed him.
“Does it guarantee a successful confession?”
“Of course not,” Xiao Lingshu said shamelessly.
“I just want to make some money off you.”
Yan Jing: “…”
Just then, his phone also rang-it was his mother.
Waving Xiao Lingshu away like shooing a fly, he walked off to answer the call.
Meanwhile, Shi Pengpeng picked up Ding Liushui’s call: “Old man, what’s up?”
“Pengpeng, are you free this Saturday?” Ding Liushui’s voice was as robust as ever.
“An old classmate from Xiluo invited me for a visit. Since it’s been a while since we last met, I thought if you’re free, you could treat me to a meal.”
“Free? Of course I’m free-what an honor to treat you!” Shi Pengpeng beamed at the thought of her grandfather visiting.
“Where are you staying? Should I book a hotel for you?”
“No need, no need. My friend has everything arranged. Just come out for a meal-don’t let it interfere with your work,” Ding Liushui said.
On the other side.
Yan’s mother was also asking:
“Xiao Jing, have you finally discussed it with your girlfriend? When are you bringing her to meet us?”
Yan Jing deflected effortlessly: “It’s not the right time yet.”
“That again.” Yan’s mother couldn’t take it anymore and hit him with the painful truth:
“Tell me honestly you don’t actually have a girlfriend, do you?”
Yan Jing: “……”
Lies don’t hurt; the truth is the sharpest blade.
Yan Jing replied calmly, “Mom, I have things to do. Talk later.”
“Wait, there’s something else I need to say,” Mother Yan quickly added.
“This weekend, your grandfather and I are going to Xiluo for an auction. You haven’t seen him in a while, so why don’t you come out and have a meal with him?”
Mentioning his grandfather, Yan Jing naturally couldn’t refuse.
He gave a simple “Mm” and said, “Got it.”
Seizing the opportunity, Mother Yan continued the previous topic, “Is your girlfriend also in Xiluo? Since your grandfather rarely visits, if she’s free, why not bring her along… if you really do have a girlfriend, that is.”
Yan Jing replied, “Hanging up now.”
After ending the call and walking back to the car, Shi Pengpeng was already waiting by the side.
Looking at her, Yan Jing thought of his mother’s urging and felt a slight impulse.
After a moment’s consideration, he asked, “Pengpeng, are you free this Saturday?”
“Uh, actually, just now…” Shi Pengpeng hesitated before countering, “Why do you ask?”
Yan Jing could tell from her reaction.
“You have plans already?”
Shi Pengpeng nodded. “Yes, I just made them. You…?”
“Oh,” Yan Jing said casually, “It’s nothing. Just asking.”