Chapter 71: Old Treasure

Zhang Jian gazed into the distance and saw a row of paper figures set up at the gate; from afar their faces were painted with rouge and wore blue hats, only lacking pupils, and besides them was another row of paper horses that looked extraordinarily spirited.

Zhang Jian knew that in folk ancestor worship, these paper figures and paper horses were the two essential items; the former could serve, while the latter represented transportation and status.

Those who were somewhat wealthier would also purchase gold-and-silver houses.

"Gold house hides beauty" — the meaning is roughly the same.

But whether paper children or paper horses, they had no eyes, which reminded Zhang Jian of the style of the paper figure Zhang, boss of Zhang Ji Paper Workshop, from his memory.

"Are they from the same school, or is it merely a coincidence?"

Soon Zhang Jian saw a clever-looking youth walk out from inside.

Upon seeing Zhang Jian, his eyes lit up and he stepped forward, saying: "Esteemed guest, are you looking to buy funeral supplies? Our shop has just opened, and we offer discounts on both paper horses and longevity wood, with quality guaranteed……"

Zhang Jian's expression remained calm as he said: "I'll have a look first! You go attend to the others!"

As his words fell, Zhang Lu behind him used his tall stature to block the attendant, and Zhang Jian entered the Liu Ji Paper Horse Shop.

From afar, Zhang Jian saw a middle-aged man with a slightly pale complexion busy inside, crafting paper figures; each paper figure came to life flexibly in his hands, standing in the hall as if alive!

In the depths of the hall there was also a small shrine, draped in red silk, exuding a special incense aroma.

Zhang Jian's gaze fell on that middle-aged man; at that moment his divine sense could feel a strong yin-cold spiritual energy gathering in the shop and not dissipating.

Especially on that middle-aged man himself.

Zhang Jian, however, did not act immediately; instead he spoke.

"But Boss Liu, business has come; an acquaintance has arrived to buy gold and silver ingots?"

Hearing Zhang Jian's voice, the middle-aged man raised his head; his complexion was deathly pale, his expression looked rather exhausted, but upon seeing Zhang Jian his face changed slightly, as if recalling something, and his expression instantly turned silent.

Seeing this, Zhang Jian laughed: "What's wrong, Boss Liu? Don't you want to do business with me, or do you have an opinion about this customer?"

The tall, thin middle-aged man, upon hearing this, said.

"Esteemed guest, the good stuff is all in the backyard; would you like to take a look back there?!"

Saying this, he promptly stood, lifted the black curtain blocking the passageway, and stepped inside.

Beside him, Zhang Lu murmured softly: "Young master, this paper horse shop boss seems to have an odd expression."

"Young master, should I go fetch the Qi family's second uncle to summon the city garrison troops? No matter what it is, a volley from everyone will surely take care of it……"

At the end of his words, Zhang Lu made a gesture and gave a hehehe laugh.

Zhang Jian laughed: "No need for all that trouble!"

After Paper Person Zhang turned into a paper ghost, his cultivation was decent, but he lacked the ability to oppose him.

Zhang Jian stepped into the backyard, which was filled with even more paper children; these paper children were completely different from the paper figures outside, their pupil positions bearing two blood lines, resembling bloody eyes.

As Zhang Jian stepped forward, all the paper children suddenly rose to their feet, staring fixedly at him.

While that middle-aged man's figure had already vanished into the darkness, Zhang Jian, seeing this, laughed:

"Uncle Zhang, do you still want to make a move on me?"

In the darkness, a yin-cold silhouette with eyes shedding bloody tears appeared; upon closer look, it was indeed the face of Paper Person Zhang.

A faint voice came from afar:

"Zhang Licentiate, I really don't want to fight you, but since you've discovered my whereabouts, you can't leave; you shouldn't have come after me!"

His eyes were shrouded in a hazy hue; in an instant, blood-red shadows emerged from the surrounding endless darkness, those paper children transformed into vicious ghosts, their sinister energy surging toward Zhang Jian.

Zhang Jian smiled, his form unchanged, yet a layer of intense yang power surged forth from around him; blazing pure yang energy erupted from the depths of his apertures, the pure yang impulse merely gave a slight shock, and the temperature of the rear hall suddenly rose by about half, with scorching sparks filling the void.

Those paper children, upon the slightest touch, were instantly ignited by that crimson glow, turning into countless shards of firelight.

Watching this scene, Zhang Jian's eyes were cold, while he locked onto a direction; without any medium, the Purifying Soul Spell appeared in his hand, forming a black rune that instantly struck one of the figures trying to dodge.

As the Purifying Soul Spell fell, it was like a heavenly net enveloping a silhouette.

The tall, thin middle-aged man was completely immobilized, his body filled with countless yin-energy blood lights crackling, emitting mournful screams.

A silhouette twisted and escaped from atop his head!

At that moment, a strained voice came from within: "My grandson…… Zhang Licentiate, I still need to wait for my young grandson; please, Zhang Licentiate, show mercy!"

Under the Purifying Soul Spell, only a few moments later his yin-energy blood light was largely purified, but deep within the ghost soul a strong obsession still swelled, making that yin energy exceptionally tenacious.

Seeing this, Zhang Jian slightly furrowed his brow.

He had read the notes of the Iron Immortal Temple, knowing that ghost cultivation, like that of immortals, required maintaining pure yin energy in order to have hope of entering the Great Dao.

But most ghostly thoughts cannot be bound, and with the taint of bloodshed, their yin energy is chaotic; even if it surges to the heavens, they find it hard to enter the gate of the Great Dao!

Yet there are a few rare cases where the yin energy is pure, with tremendous potential!

First, the spiritual body is special!

Second, the obsession is deep enough to reach a certain level!

Zhang Jian glanced at the remarkably solid yin energy on Paper Person Zhang's exterior!

"It seems he wasn't lying!"

As Zhang Jian waved his hand, a black light withdrew the Purifying Soul Spell; yet with a flick of his fingers, seven or eight crimson lightning threads spread throughout the rear hall, and if Paper Person Zhang tried to flee, striking those threads would mean certain death with no burial place.

Seeing Zhang Jian withdraw his technique, staring straight at him, Paper Person Zhang breathed a sigh of relief in his eyes, endured the pain, rose, and bowed with clasped hands:

"Young Master Zhang, I know I've wronged you, but recently I was caught in someone's grip over a weakness, forced to use my paper figure secret art to scout the Zhang family's movements, and I too have received my due fate; now I am no longer considered a person!"

"Young master, I now have only one thought: to find my poor grandson; if I can retrieve that grandson, I am willing to let the young master dispose of me as he wishes."

At once he had no time to beg for mercy, blurting out the full cause and effect of the earlier attack on the Zhang family, which also cleared up the Zhang family's doubts.

At the same time he felt some astonishment: "That stone mirror's power is even more miraculous than I imagined; Paper Person Zhang merely dabbled in heretical ways to investigate a bit, and narrowly escaped having his soul scattered by the mirror's backlash!"

This made Zhang Jian secretly astonished, but unfortunately that precious mirror he has never been able to use or move; he can only keep it at home as an offering, serving as a house-guarding talisman.

"Then, the Red Flower Lady who saved you later—what is her background? It seems she aims for something great……"

Zhang Jian's gaze flickered as he recalled the Red Lotus Daoist followers he had unintentionally seen before; these followers were not only present in Fengxi County, but now they have even appeared inside and outside Fengyang Prefecture.

But Paper Person Zhang panicked: "Zhang Licentiate, do not mention the Lady's true name; it is said the Lady is very efficacious, only those of stature who silently chant will surely receive a response!"

Oh……

Zhang Jian's thoughts shifted, and in an instant he calmly said.

"Paper Person Zhang, if I step in to help you rescue your grandson from the Gu family, how would you repay me?"

"Paper Person Zhang's blood‑shot eyes lit up at once, joy welling in their depths; he immediately gritted his teeth and said, 'As long as the Recommended Scholar Sir is willing to help this old man rescue his young grandson, this old man is willing to entrust his life to the Recommended Scholar Sir!'"

At this moment Zhang Jian also noticed that, when the young grandson was mentioned, the heavy, intense yin qi behind Paper Person Zhang was still surging wildly, and even faintly increasing.

His eyes flickered as he nodded slightly.

"Very well, then I'll spare your life for now—I look forward to your repayment!"

Zhang Jian then collected the thunder‑and‑lightning electric silk buried in the rear hall; watching Zhang Jian draw back the thunder‑and‑lightning, Paper Person Zhang's eyes changed, and a deeper reverence appeared in their depths.

He was originally a heterodox arts practitioner; after becoming a vicious ghost and joining the Red Flower Temple, his experience grew even richer, yet he had never heard of a cultivator who could control thunder and lightning.

At this moment Zhang Jian's gaze swept over the rear hall; many items inside had already been burned to ashes by the extreme yang power emanating from him, but a portion of gold and silver ingots remained. Besides that, he saw lot after lot of tranquil spirit lilies, and numerous exquisitely beautiful lotus palace lamps. He casually waved his hand, took one, and asked.

"What new product is this?"

Paper Person Zhang, upon hearing mention of his old trade, suppressed his fear and stepped forward respectfully.

"Young master, this is a Purple Qi Golden Lamp. It is said that after immortals achieve success in their cultivation, auspicious signs appear on their heads—blue clouds and purple qi. Myriad Purple Qi Golden Lamps contain boundless light and countless hopes, never falling into myriad calamities. This old man hopes that one day, when he steps into the netherworld, he too may enjoy such fortune, and so, following descriptions in ancient texts, he crafted these lotus golden lamps!"

"Hopefully, in the next life it won't be too arduous!"

"Lotus Golden Lamp?"

Zhang Jian took a look and saw that the Lotus Golden Lamp was intricately carved, its surface covered with countless tiny seal‑script symbols depicting the 《Numinous Treasure Classic》, the 《Saving Suffering Sutra》, and other scriptures; it was clear that a great deal of money had been spent on it.

Zhang Jian glanced at Paper Person Zhang with mild surprise; this old man really is creative—he's quite an old treasure.

Treasure Old Man!

Nowadays, what matters most is, of course, innovative thinking!

"Not bad—I'm taking these things with me!"

He then had Zhang Lu and Hu Shan come in to move the items.

Seeing this, Paper Person Zhang couldn't help but ask from behind: "Then, young master, my young grandson…"

"Wait for news; if the Gu family hasn't deceived you, you'll see him in at most a few days!"

Zhang Jian replied without turning his head.

……

While returning with a large amount of gold and silver ingots to the Zhang Family Granary, Zhang Jian instead went alone to the detached residence before Lock Dragon Dam.

Someone was already waiting for him here.

The Dragon Maiden wore a robe of seven‑coloured gauze, her figure tall and slender, her face bare to the sky; this was the first time Zhang Jian saw her in attire other than black, her graceful form seeming to radiate a bright light in the sunshine.

Upon seeing Zhang Jian, her voice came.

"Dao Brother, the matter you entrusted to me has been settled!"

"This is the proof you wanted!"