Chapter 84: Departure

Zhang Cheng took Chen Zheng and the others into his Soul-Capturing Banner, then directly employed an escape technique to arrive at their hometown.

Nowadays, every region is celebrating the victory, and many families are waiting for their husbands, sons, or fathers to return home.

Chen Zheng saw his own home from afar; they were a prominent clan in the village.

As an awakened youth, he had led the people of the village to form a troop.

Unfortunately, they fell into an ambush and were basically all killed in battle.

Chen Zheng saw red lanterns hanging at his home and red couplets pasted up; every house in the village was the same.

Everyone's face was brimming with smiles, talking about the days to come.

At the same time, they were also imagining their loved ones returning to live a good life.

Chen Zheng also saw his parents and his own wife and child at home, gathered together and chatting about when he would return.

Seeing the tearful Chen Zheng, Zhang Cheng brought them all to the outskirts of the village, then cast a spell to make them manifest.

He said, "You have one night's time."

Chen Zheng immediately saluted and said, "Many thanks, Daoist!"

"Brothers, go back and see your families, gather at the village entrance at dawn."

They marched in step to the village entrance, where the village guard clearly noticed they were different.

Chen Zheng smiled and said, "A Cai, we are staying for one night and then leaving."

The village guard named A Cai realized something, his eyes immediately turned red, and he cleared the way.

As soon as Chen Zheng and the others walked into the village, the villagers saw them.

Each family found their own husband or son, joyfully stepping forward to pull them home.

Chen Zheng also returned to his own doorstep.

The gatekeeper servant immediately shouted, "The young master is back!"

People inside the courtyard heard the shout and hurriedly stood up to check.

The old steward hurried over, took one look, and said excitedly, "Young master, you have returned!"

Chen Zheng nodded with a smile and walked into the courtyard.

He saw his parents, wife, and child before the steps of the main hall and revealed a smile.

His son shouted and rushed over, throwing himself directly into his arms.

Chen Zheng laughed, walked forward, and said, "Father, Mother, have you been doing well?"

Father Chen smiled and said, "Quite well. But what about you? Now that you're back, are you leaving again?"

Chen Zheng smiled slightly and said, "I still have a mission; I am only staying here for one night and will leave tomorrow morning."

Mother Chen's eyes immediately turned red, and she said with some reproach, "Zheng'er, the war is already over, why must you still leave?"

The wife at her side was also teary-eyed.

Chen Zheng had bitter words he could not speak; instead, Father Chen paused his cane and said, "A real man has his ambitions in the four corners of the world; what would a woman know of such things?"

"It is good enough that you are back for one night; let us just celebrate."

Chen Zheng took his wife's hand, walked into the hall, and ate a reunion meal with his family.

At the dinner table, Mother Chen kept putting food into Chen Zheng's bowl, saying, "Zheng'er, eat more. You've been sleeping in the open and eating in the wind out there; look, your complexion has become so pale."

Father Chen looked up and examined Chen Zheng carefully; his brows furrowed, he bit his back teeth, and tears gradually appeared in his eye sockets.

He had already understood some things, so he forcibly held back his tears and sat in silence with Chen Zheng.

After finishing dinner, Father Chen made an excuse to call Chen Zheng into the study. He was silent for a long time before saying, "Zheng'er, you..."

Chen Zheng nodded and said, "Father, your child is unfilial; I can no longer serve you in the future."

Father Chen's body instantly hunched over, and his voice trembled as he said, "You sacrificed your life for the country; you died... for a worthy cause. Your father is very gratified."

"Go with peace of mind. As long as your father is still alive, the family will be safe and sound."

Chen Zheng immediately knelt and kowtowed three times before leaving the room.

Father Chen watched his son's back, and at this moment, he could no longer hold back his tears.

That night, Chen Village passed in celebration; at dawn, Chen Zheng and the others gathered at the village entrance and followed Zhang Cheng away.

A Cai murmured, "Brothers, go in peace."

Not long after they left, government officials arrived at Chen Village.

Previously, Chen Zheng's troop had been listed as missing; now, they were defined as having sacrificed their lives.

The official said with a pained expression, "Please accept my condolences."

Upon learning the news, Mother Chen and Chen Zheng's wife immediately fainted from grief.

And the other families in the village were also filled with wailing.

Only then did they realize that last night was merely the return of departed souls.

In the blink of an eye, Chen Village was draped in mourning white, with every house lamenting the dead.

Since ancient times, loyalty and filial piety have been hard to reconcile; Chen Zheng and the others could only depart in pain.

Zhang Cheng brought Chen Zheng and the others back to Xiangjiang, where he immediately issued them waist tokens and Ghost-Beating Rods, while Chen Zheng received an extra chain.

This troop of theirs was assigned to manage Xiangjiang Island, Kowloon, the New Territories, and the surrounding islands respectively.

Among them, the Kowloon Walled City was assigned a separate troop.

There were fifty-one people in total; the Ghost-Beating Rods cost five thousand merit points, and the Soul-Binding Chain cost three hundred merit points.

Zhang Cheng told them, "Your main task is to lead the dead into the Ghost Gate Pass."

If you encounter lost wandering ghosts and spirits, you may also take them along.

If you discover any evil souls or fierce spirits, capture them if you can; if they are too powerful, you may tell me."

Chen Zheng saluted and said, "Yes, Daoist!"

Zhang Cheng raised an eyebrow and waved his hand, saying, "Let's change this form of address."

He thought about how they might appear during the day to guide the dead in the future, and feared they might be seen by those with natural Yin-Yang eyes, so he thought about making a change. (Mainly afraid of 404.)

"I plan to use a company model; this way, we can better integrate among the common people and avoid causing panic."

"Like this, from now on you can just call me Boss. As for you, you will be the Containment Supervisor, and the rest can be called Sales Representatives for the time being."

Chen Zheng asked in confusion, "Boss? Why do it this way?"

Zhang Cheng smiled and said, "Some people use talk of ghosts and monsters to swindle others, and there are also those with ulterior motives who harm people, so we must put on a cloak and act in secret."

"To the outside world, we must believe in science."

Chen Zheng thought for a moment and nodded, saying, "I will follow the Boss's instructions entirely."

After settling Chen Zheng and the others, Zhang Cheng had to find a way to get a place to start the company.

The address of the company would, of course, be above the Ghost Gate.

Speaking of building a company, that would require money.

Zhang Cheng thought about it; he was penniless.

Chen Zheng, who was to the side, asked, "Boss, do we have the money to build a company?"

Zhang Cheng waved his hand and said, "Rest assured, money is a small matter."

Although he had no money left, he had collected quite a few Heaven-Earth Treasures before; he had things like century-old ginseng, lingzhi, and Tianshan snow lotus.

As long as he sold these items to those wealthy tycoons, he could exchange them for a sum of money.

After Zhang Cheng arranged for Chen Zheng and the others, he returned to Chen Jiang's Daoist temple.

Ever since Chen Jiang displayed his true skills at the villa on the back mountain and was reported on by reporters, many common people had come to the Daoist temple to offer incense money.

He had just arrived outside the Daoist temple when he saw the entrance crowded with people.

And Chen Jiang was just walking out with Yang Feiyun.

Seeing Zhang Cheng, Chen Jiang hurriedly stepped forward and said, "Uncle Sheng, you're back."

Seeing Zhang Cheng, Yang Feiyun was secretly startled, because he could not see through Zhang Cheng's fate.

Afraid of 404, I can only change the form of address. I just want to make a living and don't want to go against the rules, sorry, sorry!

(End of this chapter)