Chapter 1367

【Transmitting this world's plot memories……Transmission successful.】

The villain Ying Wu Shu, a family‑inherited half‑trained Taoist master, allegedly had ancestors so wealthy they left behind treasures comparable to a museum, yet a ban forbids selling the family estate.

Thus the Ying family has guarded the treasure trove for generations, becoming miserly keepers of wealth; they opened a shop named Spirit Clear Crossing that legitimately sells and pawns treasures, and incidentally helps ghosts and kind‑hearted people solve various problems, a tradition that continues to this day.

And Ying Wu Shu, raised by his grandfather, inherited Spirit Clear Crossing after Old Master Ying passed away, in the year he graduated from university.

The protagonist, Luo Qiu, has possessed yin‑yang eyes since childhood, is on extremely good terms with Ying Wu Shu, and, due to his special ability, stays at Spirit Clear Crossing to help run the shop.

The story begins when Luo Qiu, out one day, rescues a man who had collided with a ghost—that man is the protagonist, Gu Cun.

Young Master Gu falls for Luo Qiu at first sight, yet his innate constitution is extraordinarily special—heavy yang energy yet he constantly encounters ghosts, and Taoist masters he's consulted have found no cause.

Gu Cun and Luo Qiu, after several chance encounters where they treated each other's injuries and then shared meals to express thanks, gradually became a couple.

Who would have thought that after Luo Qiu and Gu Cun, whose ghost‑collisions were originally infrequent, fell in love, their chances of encountering danger would rise in a straight line?

Suddenly there were two people who constantly needed rescuing; Ying Wu Shu, after missing several chances to help ordinary people while saving them, temporarily used the family heirloom jade pendant that contains expelling‑evil spiritual power to protect Luo Qiu.

Ying Wu Shu no longer worries that his friend will be killed by ghosts, so he sets out confidently to escort the bronze sword needed by the museum.

Who would have guessed that this very trip away would change everything once Ying Wu Shu returned?

Spirit Clear Crossing was invaded by uninvited guests, seeming like ghosts or monsters.

They sought to seize the treasure and also took a liking to Gu Cun's reputed Profound Yang Body, their attitude extremely arrogant,

Luo Qiu used the jade pendant to fight them, but by a twist of fate they mistook him for an heir of the Ying family; fearing they would harm Ying Wu Shu, he bitterly admitted to being one.

Those people were enemies of Old Master Ying, and they struck Luo Qiu so hard his soul shattered.

A shattered soul cannot become a ghost, is no longer human, and cannot be reincarnated.

Gu Cun, in extreme anguish, used his Profound Yang physique capable of colliding with evil spirits, inviting a fierce ghost to possess him to avenge his beloved, but in doing so he lost all humanity.

Because Gu Cun could not control himself, after he killed two neighbors in succession, Ying Wu Shu finally rushed back.

Ying Wu Shu grieves his friend's departure, yet he has no choice but to eradicate the evil that harms ordinary people.

Finally, Ying Wu Shu found in the treasure trove's books a method to repair a shattered soul, and after half a year he brought Luo Qiu back.

Yet Ying Wu Shu killed Gu Cun with his own hands; Luo Qiu, even if he did not wish to hate him, could not help it, and they gradually drifted apart, no longer in contact.

Friends gone, love departed, Luo Qiu died again less than fifteen years after his soul recovered, his oil exhausted and lamp burnt out.

In the same year he learned of his friend's death, Ying Wu Shu passed Spirit Clear Crossing to his disciple, after which he vanished without a trace.

【What a tragic story.】0731 sigh.

It seems no one is at fault, yet everyone is constantly pushed toward the boundary of fate.

Jin Chen's identity this time is that of the heir of the Hidden World Taoist Master Clan, sent out to gain experience.

His only intersection with the protagonist in the original plot was when he happened upon those intruders breaking into Spirit Clear Crossing and felt compelled to intervene.

If he were to debut only then, even the yellow‑flower vegetables would be cold!

Jin Chen headed for Lingqing Crossing's antique shop, pondering how to stay.

The story now finds Ying Wu Shu a few months after graduation, jointly running Lingqing Crossing with Luo Qiu, who rescued Gu Cun a few days ago but they have not yet met a second time.

In the inner mouth of the alley at the end of the antique market, the lane is long, with only a few scattered shops; the sign of Lingqing Crossing stands tall on the doorframe, the traces of time's polishing clearly visible, yet it still appears mysterious and full of charm.

Jin Chen pushed the door open and his gaze met that of the person behind the counter.

Ying Wu Shu was calculating accounts, his fingertips moving the abacus beads; his tall, slender posture casually leaned against the nanmu rack, wearing an exquisite Chinese cloud-pattern shirt, his whole bearing exuding a refined, noble air.

When he lifted his eyes, his crescent moon-like eyes slightly curved, carrying an aloof smile.

Not a trace of the restlessness typical of someone in their twenties.

Like a green mountain after rain, a tranquil lake under the autumn moon.

【Detected this world's plot villain, triggering Blackening Value, currently Blackening Value: 30!】

【Mission requirement: Blackening Value to be cleared, to change the villain's tragic ending.】

"Welcome to Lingqing Crossing."

Ying Wu Shu did not stop moving the abacus beads, he glanced up at the visitor, startled by the person's overly sharp bone structure, only for a few seconds, then lowered his gaze again.

"Feel free to pick, pawn with goods for goods."

Jin Chen walked to the counter, his deep voice carrying an edge, "I'm here to apply."

Ying Wu Shu straightened up slightly this time, unhurried, "Sir, we're not hiring."

Thinking the customer had taken a wrong turn, Luo Qiu crawled out from under the table, kindly reminding, "Go further inside; the shops at the alley's end are recently hiring restorers."

Jin Chen: "I didn't take a wrong turn; I came to apply at Lingqing Crossing."

Luo Qiu wiped the dust from his face, exchanged a glance with Ying Wu Shu, and whispered, "Does he know something?"

Ying Wu Shu shook his head, then lifted his eyes toward Jin Chen, "Lingqing Crossing doesn't hire staff; customers are free to……"

A crisp snap of the fastener sounded, and Ying Wu Shu's gaze fell on the talisman that Jin Chen had set down.

"You are a Daoist master."

"Or a Daoist master who bestows immortal-rank talismans, far more orthodox than his half-baked version."

Jin Chen nodded, "Entrusted by my family's elders, and also owing a favor to the Jia clan."

Ying Wu Shu fell silent, suddenly not knowing how to continue the conversation.

Logically he should know, but when his grandfather was still alive, one day after drinking too much, he burned the book recording the various clans' correspondence in one fell swoop.

"May I boldly ask, sir, which clan do you belong to?"

"My name is Jin Chen, I come from the south."

Ying Wu Shu: "Hiss……"

"To the south are Jinbei and Xuan, famed as the leading sheep of the hidden-world families."

"Jin Chen dares to apply; he wouldn't dare to take him on."

"This journey is for worldly experience; if Lingqing Crossing doesn't take me, I fear I cannot explain to my family's elders, and I hope Boss Ying will accommodate."

Jin Chen still had no intention of giving up; his stern, sharp features softened a bit as he made a fist‑and‑palm salute.

Ying Wu Shu had long heard from his grandfather that reclusive clans observe the rites of inheritance faithfully, yet they are all single‑minded.

Today he also came to understand it.

Ying Wu Shu sighed helplessly, "To be frank, I've only just taken over Ling Qing Crossing, and right now we're still operating at a loss."

The implication was that he couldn't afford to pay wages.

Luo Qiu nodded along, "Exactly, exactly, we have no choice either."

Doing business is too hard!

Jin Chen fell into a brief contemplation.

【Gather up the rainbow fur and come out as a mascot.】

【Huh? … Oh!】

0731 obediently complied, reluctantly bidding farewell to the dreamy hair color for the time being.

Jin Chen took out a plush toy from the backpack he was carrying and tossed it onto the counter with a thud.

"Divine auspicious beast, it brings wealth."

Ying Wu Shu: "……"

Luo Qiu: "……What is this??"