Chapter 11: Xiao Jiu, you

The familiar agarwood fragrance enveloped me, and my panicked, wandering heart instantly found something to rely on.

My nose inexplicably felt sour, and my eye sockets grew moist as well.

I immediately turned away, burying my face in the man's embrace—it was very affected, but right now I really couldn't help myself: "Seventh Lord, did I do something wrong?"

"I… I seem to have killed an innocent person."

"Xiao Jiu, you're not wrong." Liu Junyan tightened his grip slightly, pulling me into his embrace, "In Wufu Town, the Dou family has no innocent people."

I lifted my gaze to him, puzzled: "Why?"

"These matters can't be explained in a few words," Liu Junyan said. "You'll gradually understand them later; you just need to remember to handle things according to the pawnshop's rules."

I nodded; regarding Fu Wan's matter, I indeed followed the rules.

"Xiao Jiu, you did very well on the first business after reopening the pawnshop," Liu Junyan praised. "You're even smarter than I imagined; offering that coffin nail saved me several years of merit, giving me the energy to come out and briefly meet you."

I instantly grew nervous: "Are you going back into the black coffin again?"

Liu Junyan hummed, seeming reluctant, and opened his mouth to comfort me with a couple of sentences, but I hurriedly said: "I know you expended too much merit to help me survive this eighteen‑year‑old tribulation, and then you went on to suppress the unclean things in the main hall, which was arduous; I will guard the pawnshop well and wait for you."

"Xiao Jiu, you're so good."

Liu Junyan lowered his head and kissed my forehead; my face instantly flushed.

Although I am already his, in my heart I feel more gratitude toward him than anything else.

Such intimate words and actions—I'm still not completely used to them.

But Liu Junyan is clearly at ease; his long fingers pinched my ear lobe, red enough to drip blood, and he gave a light laugh.

The more he laughed, the redder my face became, to the point of almost stamping my feet from embarrassment.

But this commotion completely dispelled the gloom that had filled my heart, and I relaxed entirely.

We don't have much time alone, yet I have many questions I want to ask him.

I reached out and pointed to the antique shelf behind me, asking: "When I was inventorying these pawned items earlier, I noticed some had expired their pawn period; can I take them to offer to you?"

"Yes, but they're not offerings for me," Liu Junyan explained. "Most of these pawned items are yin objects."

I realized: "Yin objects are offered to those unclean things; you need yang objects for offerings, right?"

"Yang objects are rare," Liu Junyan said. "But if you run the pawnshop well and earn merit, that is the best offering for me."

Speaking of merit, over these twelve years I owe Liu Junyan far too much.

Since running the pawnshop well can repay him merit, I gladly do so.

Only if he is well and strong enough can I survive.

I looked around the pawnshop and resolved in my heart: no matter the difficulties, I will shoulder the burden of this pawnshop!

Then I recalled the six‑corner palace lamp downstairs and told Liu Junyan again about Fu Wan's soul ritual: "According to the rules, for Fu Wan's soul ritual I must find her cause of death and transmute her resentful spirit, but I truly don't know where to start."

"Fu Wan's resentment stems from that letter, so the breakthrough should be in the letter," Liu Junyan said. "Xiao Jiu, don't rush; we can investigate Fu Wan's matter slowly, but there are two things you need to attend to right away."

I asked curiously: "What?"

"First," Liu Junyan said solemnly, "the pawnshop's supplies—such as pawn tickets—must be bought from a place called Gui Shi. Gui Shi opens its doors to the yang realm only on the fifteenth of each lunar month, for just three hours."

Liu Junyan's words reminded me that the pawn tickets in the drawer originally numbered three, but Fu Wan used one tonight, leaving only two.

That's clearly not enough.

I asked: "When does Gui Shi open? Where is the gate? Is the currency interchangeable?"

"This is the second matter I need to tell you about."

Liu Junyan placed a long, strip‑shaped token into my hand.

That token is black, with a small‑seal script 'Yan' engraved on the front and a dragon‑head totem on the back, looking very imposing.

"When you finish what's at hand, take this token and help me find a person."

Liu Junyan said solemnly: "Go downstream along the western river until it meets the sea; there is a large aquatic market there. I want you to help me find a girl with a red mole on the tip of her nose. Don't draw attention; when you inquire, just say you want to buy a red carp with a broken horn."

I wondered: "Do carp have horns?"

"It doesn't matter, Xiao Jiu," Liu Junyan said. "After all these years, I'm not sure if I can still find her; she has a bit of a temper, but she's very capable. If you find her, you can trust her as you trust me."

My eyes lit up: "Is this the helper you're having me find?"

Liu Junyan laughed and lightly scratched my nose: "Xiao Jiu is the smartest."

My face turned red again.

"All right, I have to go back," Liu Junyan said, ruffling my hair. "Don't be afraid, Xiao Jiu; everything comes from the heart, and I believe in your abilities."

I nodded firmly.

Although I am completely clueless about the future and lack any confidence in myself, I don't want to distract Liu Junyan.

Grandma used to say, "Cling to Seventh Lord's thigh, and you must also strive to grow."

Since I've taken on the pawnshop, I have no reason to retreat.

Liu Junyan left, and the sky grew bright.

Someone called the police; the authorities examined the scene and handled Dou Feng's corpse.

I had expected to receive a summons for police cooperation in the investigation, but there was none at all.

In Wufu Town, it seems that aside from me, everyone else takes these events in stride.

But regarding Dou Feng's death, there are many rumors among the neighbors.

Some say the police retrieved surveillance from Wufu Town's streets, which showed Dou Feng bursting out of the Dou family coffin shop last night clutching a coffin nail.

He ran wildly down the street; the rain‑slick road caused him to slip and fall, and that brand‑new coffin nail happened to pierce his brow, killing him instantly.

Others claim the Dou family's many misdeeds have attracted unclean things, bringing retribution; this morning neighbors saw a large patch of gray rats dead in the Dou family coffin shop, each as big as a house cat, their deaths gruesome and especially bizarre.

Still others say the Dou family's misfortune stems from a letter.

For generations, his ancestors have died mysteriously, each receiving a letter before death; after hiring an expert to suppress it, peace prevailed for years.

Who would have thought that a heavy rainstorm this year would cause that letter to resurface.

Now Dou Feng is dead; his only son, Dou Jinsuo, probably won't live long either……

When I was having someone repair the door, I heard a few things, and I thought Fu Wan had already offered a soul sacrifice to the Hexagonal Palace Lamp; the Resentful Qi on that letter also disappeared along with it, so Dou Jinsuo might not die.

Just then, a nervous voice suddenly sounded from behind: 'Xiao Jiu…… no, it's…… it's Xiao Jiu Zhanggui, I…… I want to buy something.'

I turned around and saw that the person was actually Dou Jinsuo.

He was wrapped in a black long windcoat, his whole face sunk into the windcoat's hood, his face covered with black scratches, his eyes dodging and Shan Shan, like a thief.

I furrowed my brows and asked, 'What do you want to buy?'

Dou Jinsuo glanced at the counter and whispered, 'Xiao Jiu Zhanggui, let's go inside to talk.'

I felt some aversion toward him, but thinking I might learn something about Fu Wan by following this lead, I let him in.

I stepped inside the counter and asked again, 'What do you want to buy?'

Dou Jinsuo took out a folded piece of paper from his pocket and respectfully placed it on the counter.

I immediately recognized it—it was Fu Wan's letter!

Dou Jinsuo's tone was extremely humble, looking at me in a fawning way, his voice pleading: 'I…… I want to buy this letter, I'll pay even if it costs me my life! One fen.'