Chapter 1377

Sun Xiaoting had no sorrow left, only an irrepressible hatred; the one who shed tears most violently was actually Xu Feifei.

Lu Qiu clenched his fists in anger, "If I had known, I wouldn't have agreed to help that Sun Hong!"

Ling Gun Gun sighed on Jin Chen's shoulder, softly whining, 【It really makes the leader sad.】

Jin Chen glanced at Ying Wu Shu, seeing only a gentle sorrow in his eyes, nothing else.

This person, Ying Wu Shu, seems approachable and warm, but is actually aloof and distant; when he lifts his eyes, his gaze is compassionate yet cold, and he draws a clear line with anyone.

"What's wrong?" Ying Wu Shu asked softly.

"Nothing, just thinking about how to resolve this."

Jin Chen lazily withdrew his gaze, "What do you think, Wu Shu?"

Ying Wu Shu pondered seriously, then proposed: "Sun Hong's demand is to awaken Sun Dage; theoretically, we should return the seized soul and then hand it over to the police."

But often, theory and reality don't turn out as hoped.

The agreement with Sun Hong to rescue the elder brother probably has to be abandoned.

Jin Chen caught the meaning in his words, gave a light chuckle, and asked Sun Xiaoting, "How did you handle your elder brother's seized soul?"

Sun Xiaoting declared firmly, "I already swallowed it! No! Even if you beat me to death, it's useless!"

"That's a real shame; we can only forcibly awaken him as a fool."

Jin Chen's tone was neutral, showing no hint of regret.

Ying Wu Shu added, "But you cannot continue to wreak havoc on humanity; Sun Dage has already paid the price, and the Sun family will also be dealt with by the law."

Sun Xiaoting fell silent, then suddenly said, "I still have one wish."

Jin Chen: "Please tell me."

"I want the Sun family to go bankrupt, left with nothing!"

"All right." Jin Chen nodded.

For such newly rich accounts, it's best to investigate; each check reveals a problem, and the final outcome will only be punishment from above.

Xu Feifei stayed at Pure Spirit Crossing for half a day, then was quickly taken by the police to assist the investigation; upon learning that the heavily pampered precious son had died, the Xu parents were struck as if by lightning.

But because of the neighbor uncle's incident, Xu Feifei was still restricted from completing compulsory education, indirectly causing Xu Yaozu's tragedy; the Xu parents, already burdened with a traffic accident lawsuit, likewise could not escape legal sanctions.

As for Sun Xiaoting's side, after Jin Chen awakened Sun Dage, he directly brought her to the Sun family home.

The Sun family members were terrified out of their wits, a gloomy resentment shrouded the villa, and they were on the verge of kneeling to beg.

Regarding Sun Xiaoting's actions, Jin Chen pretended not to notice, even reaching out to shield Ying Wu Shu's eyes.

Ying Wu Shu couldn't help but chuckle, "I won't interfere."

Jin Chen whispered, "Once we get the final payment, we'll withdraw."

"What about Sun Xiaoting…" "She will dissipate."

As expected, after Jin Chen warned her not to kill humans, Sun Xiaoting merely frightened the Sun family into losing control of their bowels, her spirit scattered abnormally, and then she stroked her long hair and left.

At the moment she stepped out of the Sun family's main gate, resentment vanished and her soul dispersed completely.

After that night, rumors spread that the Sun family had become a house full of lunatics, plus a fool who couldn't speak clearly.

That bracelet, once full of hope and later strung together after enduring tribulations, was also sealed within Pure Spirit Crossing, containing yin energy and unsuitable to remain in the world.

——

A few days later, Lu Qiu was to accompany his maternal grandfather for his birthday, took leave and went home; Pure Spirit Crossing was left to be managed by Jin Chen and Ying Wu Shu.

As deep autumn arrived, the ancient street where Pure Spirit Crossing is located grew more desolate; visitors dwindled, and fewer could wander to the street's end.

Lately, Ying Wu Shu for some reason didn't much like burning incense in the shop, so he simply opened the window for ventilation, accompanying the gentle autumn breeze as he read ancient texts and learned a few novel talismans newly taught by Jin Chen.

Jin Chen carried a wooden box out from the storage room, puzzled, asking, "What is this? It's pressed under the cabinet with a thick layer of dust."

As the two grew more familiar with each other, Ying Wu Shu found this all‑capable employee easy to direct and use.

Literarily he can teach the heart‑method talisman; militarily he can beat ghosts and repair old cabinets and tables.

Ying Wu Shu set down his brush, thought, and said, "I seem never to have seen it either; let's open it and have a look."

He took a clean cloth to wipe the dust off Jin Chen's body, the two sat around the tea table, and opened the wooden box.

"Agate Jade Chess Set!" Ying Wu Shu exclaimed in surprise, forgetting the talismans on the counter.

"It was actually under the cabinet."

"What's the origin?" Jin Chen asked.

Ying Wu Shu took out the chessboard, smiling as he explained, "I just learned Go with this set, carrying it around to play, and even claimed to be invincible under heaven."

"Later I don't know where I put it in a corner, and when I later tried to find it again, I couldn't locate it no matter what."

He carefully wiped away the accumulated dust, his movements slowing, feeling somewhat wistful.

"If Grandfather were still alive, he'd surely be pleased; this chess set is said to have been passed down for several generations, and he treasured it."

He was lost in thought when suddenly his head was lightly tapped.

"I'll go wash the chessboard clean; later I'll meet you, this invincible master."

Jin Chen spoke in an even tone, his mellow voice like the strong tea being brewed on the tea table, undisturbed.

It didn't sound like consolation, but it truly let Ying Wu Shu relax quite a bit.

He isn't good at bringing up sad matters with people; if he can lightly brush it over, that's appropriate.

Okay, thank you.

The dust couldn't be wiped clean; Ying Wu Shu handed it over to Jin Chen like a treasure, his eyes clear and moist with a smile, "If I never win against you in chess, then the title of master might as well be bid farewell."

Jin Chen chuckled lowly, took the chessboard and stepped out of the half-open Lingqing Pass door; beside it was an open-air well, also considered a feature of this ancient street.

Ying Wu Shu watched him go; only when he could no longer see his back did he lower his eyes, his fingertip brushing the tea table, the small flame extinguished.

He poured a cup of strong tea, held it, and Ying Wu Shu returned to the counter to continue practicing talismans, but his mood wasn't as calm as before.

When he came to his senses, the ink paper he usually used was already covered with Jin Chen's name.

Ying Wu Shu fell silent for two seconds, then, trying to hide it but only making it more obvious, he crumpled the ink paper into a ball and tossed it into the desk's trash bin.

His ears showed no hint of red, and the tea was lightly cool.

【Detected villain triggered Heartbeat Value, Heartbeat Value +10!】

Ling Gun Gun was dazed from sleep; after finishing the broadcast, he glanced toward the door, howling as he went to find Ying Wu Shu to beg for food.

When Jin Chen heard the Heartbeat Value, he was half‑crouched washing the jade stone game pieces; the black and white pieces were being rinsed by well water in the silver basin, when suddenly a ginkgo leaf fell.

He looked up and saw it was a leaf from the prayer tree.

In the stone altar at the very end of the street grew a ginkgo tree said to be several hundred years old, its trunk and branches thick and long.

As the scenic spot was developed, many long strips of red cloth used by tourists for making wishes were hung on the branches; when the autumn wind blew and the leaves fell, only the red cloth remained, fluttering wildly.

That year, when Jin Chen first arrived, he noticed that this ginkgo tree and the plaque of Spirit Clear Crossing shared mingling spiritual energy, so he thought making wishes there would also be efficacious.