Chapter 38

Shen Siyuan stood frozen, staring at the spot where the old Daoist had vanished, only regaining his senses after a long while.

Although he had only met the old Daoist twice, the old man had helped Shen Siyuan immensely, resolving many of his doubts about this world, so Shen Siyuan held a favorable impression of him.

Yet he never expected the man would vanish so completely before his eyes.

But it was irretrievable; Shen Siyuan no longer dwelled on it and turned his attention back to the items in his hands.

It was a pity—he hadn’t even had time to tell the old Daoist what the jade seal and jade tablet were before he dissolved away.

The old Daoist had spent his entire life studying these two objects without ever determining their nature, but Shen Siyuan knew: both belonged to the category of imperial edicts, with nearly identical functions.

One appeared to be the seal of some mountain deity, the other a decree of a river deity—both symbols of identity and divine authority.

Shen Siyuan understood this precisely because similar objects existed within the Great Wilderness.

Unfortunately, these two edicts had lost all spiritual essence and were utterly useless, reduced to mere ordinary objects.

That was why the old Daoist had only sensed their extraordinary origins but could never decipher their true nature.

Shen Siyuan set down the [Embracing Wind to Sleep] and picked up the final bundle of iron chains.

The chains were no thicker than a finger, barely two meters long; though called iron chains, they were not made of iron at all—only resembled them.

For they were entirely black, cold to the touch, and nearly weightless.

Shen Siyuan examined them closely, and the more he looked, the more delighted he became, until his lips could no longer suppress a smile.

For this was a Soul-Grabbing Chain, a tool of the Underworld’s ghost officers, used specifically to summon and bind souls.

Though to the Netherworld it was an ordinary item, to Shen Siyuan at this stage, it was immensely useful.

Most crucially, this object required no spiritual energy from heaven or earth—only nourishment from the qi of the netherworld to be refined, after which it could be wielded at will.

And what Shen Siyuan had in abundance was the qi of the netherworld; thinking of this, he activated his will, summoned the [Ten Thousand Souls Banner], extended a finger, formed a hand seal, and lightly tapped the Soul-Grabbing Chain.

A wisp of azure flame curled around the chain, and the once entirely black chain now glowed faintly with a blue luminescence.

Suddenly, the chain leapt violently from the ground, like a snake awakening from hibernation, writhing a few times before coiling around Shen Siyuan’s sealed wrist, climbing up his arm like a sentient serpent, playfully entwining itself.

But this was not the end—Shen Siyuan gripped the chain’s end, and the chain shuddered, instantly straightening like a spear, then softened again, yet did not fall to the ground; instead, it hovered in the air, spiraling and circling around Shen Siyuan’s body.

Shen Siyuan pointed forward with two fingers; the Soul-Grabbing Chain, now imbued with sentience, instantly surged forward along the direction of his finger.

“Good… good…”

Shen Siyuan was overjoyed—though ghost officers of the Underworld each carried one, this tool was truly effective.

Precisely because of this commonality, it had been easy for Shen Siyuan to refine it.

Of course, another reason was that its original owner may have long since perished, leaving no imprint behind.

But regardless, this Soul-Grabbing Chain now belonged to him.

With a thought, the chain curled up the several objects on the ground and returned to Shen Siyuan’s palm.

Shen Siyuan hefted the shovel and walked toward the broken gate of the temple.

When he reached the entrance, he gazed at the bodhi tree before the gate; a gentle breeze stirred the leaves, sunlight dappling the ground like dancing fish and dragons.

Though the scene was beautiful, Shen Siyuan felt a faint sadness rise within him.

He turned to look back at the ruined walls of the [Listening to the Wind Temple], his gaze settling on the Three Pure Ones statue inside; he set down the shovel, bowed once more, then gathered his belongings and descended the mountain.

A light breeze lifted a single bodhi leaf, drifting lazily into the hall, swirling around the Three Pure Ones statue before finally settling upon the broken altar.

“On such a scorching day, where did you run off to?”

Hearing the motorcycle’s noise, Huang Huijuan stepped out from inside the house.

“Didn’t I say? I went to see a classmate.”

“Did you bury him?” Huang Huijuan glanced at the shovel lying across the back of his motorcycle.

“Mom, what are you talking about?”

“I’m talking nonsense? I think you’re full of lies—why bring a shovel to see a classmate?”

“We buried a time capsule before; I remembered it today and dug it up.” Shen Siyuan’s talent for lying was no small thing.

Huang Huijuan regarded her son with suspicion.

“Where’s the thing now?”

“My classmate took it back.”

“Which classmate?”

“You wouldn’t know him.”

“Boy or girl?”

“Mom, why ask so many questions? Where’s Dad?” Shen Siyuan was growing annoyed.

“Asleep in the bedroom.”

“It’s already this late, and he’s still sleeping?”

Shen Siyuan wiped sweat from his brow; his clothes were soaked through from the afternoon’s labor.

“There’s watermelon in the fridge—eat some. I’ll go wake your father so he can take you.” Huang Huijuan turned and went back inside to call Shen Jianjun.

Shen Siyuan washed his hands, returned to the room, took out the jade seal and jade tablet from his pocket, and put them in the drawer; only the Soul-Grabbing Chain he tied around his waist as a belt.

Unfortunately, the space inside the [Ten Thousand Souls Banner] still couldn’t be opened; once it could, he could store the Soul-Grabbing Chain directly inside.

When he emerged from the room again, his father was already awake, pouring water into his cup from a bottle.

Shen Jianjun glanced at Shen Siyuan but did not ask where he had been that afternoon.

Huang Huijuan, however, noticing Shen Siyuan hadn’t eaten the watermelon, began complaining again.

“You’re such a spoiled brat—I tell you to eat watermelon, and you won’t unless I hand it to you?”

As she spoke, she took the watermelon from the fridge; meanwhile, Shen Jianjun, who had just been pouring water, had already gone to the kitchen to fetch a knife.

“Eat a couple pieces, then take your son to town.”

Shen Jianjun nodded and sliced the watermelon, then handed the central portion to Huang Huijuan.

Huang Huijuan accepted it without any modesty.

“Anything you need me to buy on the way back?” Shen Jianjun asked.

Huang Huijuan thought for a moment: “Buy some braised dishes.”

Shen Jianjun nodded: “Alright, I’ll buy some lamb too—we’ll have barbecue tonight.”

“I’ll chill a few bottles of beer for you,” Huang Huijuan said.

Shen Siyuan sat nearby, munching on watermelon, listening to their conversation.

He felt the chilled watermelon was especially refreshing.

So this is how you play it, is it? Next time I won’t come back, Shen Siyuan thought angrily.

“Mom, I’m leaving.”

Shen Siyuan swung his leg over the motorcycle and waved to Huang Huijuan.

“Go, go, I’m sick of seeing you,” Huang Huijuan said with a frown.

Yet she stepped forward, adjusted his collar, then pulled a wad of cash from her pocket and shoved it into his.

“Mom~” Shen Siyuan said, deeply moved.

“Enough, don’t talk. I’m giving you money—spend it wisely.”

“That’s not what I meant—I’m saying, can you stop giving cash? I have to deposit it into my card, it’s such a hassle—just transfer it to me via WeChat or Alipay…”

Hearing this, Huang Huijuan bristled and raised her hand to strike.

Shen Siyuan quickly patted his father’s back.

“Dad, let’s go.”

But the motorcycle had already started—he still didn’t move.

Only after receiving a few punches on his back did he finally twist the throttle.