Chapter 409: with translation of chapter title

Originally the big refrigerator was empty, but now every shelf of the fresh-keeping compartment is filled with things.

Even more remarkably, the little ears and little tails are still moving, showing no sign of rotting at all.

Without a doubt, these are just like that pair of Buddha Eyes from before—they are all spiritual objects.

I hurriedly asked: "Are these things all brought in when you came in?"

"No, you weren't here, so nobody dared to touch the Pawn Ticket." Li Qingying explained, "These were all placed at the Dang Pu door by someone in the middle of the night; they knocked and left, and I've waited several times but never caught them."

This reminded me of the valley butterfly from before.

The valley butterfly had originally delivered the Buddha Eye to the pawnshop, then a few days later was killed, and after becoming a soul it came to pawn.

Forcing so many spiritual objects into this state can only mean one thing—something big is about to happen in Huicheng!

I ask: "Senior Sister Qingying, has Senior Sister been looking for me lately?"

Li Qingying shook her head: "No, everyone knows you haven't been at the Dang Pu recently, so nobody has come looking for you."

I immediately took out my backup phone and called Yu Nian.

What I didn't expect was that the call was answered quickly, and Yu Nian's voice came through: "Xiao Jiu, you're back at the pawnshop?"

"Yeah, I'm back." I asked, "Senior Sister, how's it going over there? The pawnshop has received quite a few spiritual objects lately..."

"It's fine, Xiao Jiu, be patient." Yu Nian interrupted me, her tone steady, "There is indeed some movement here; I've been watching it, but the situation has exceeded my expectations, so I need to keep observing for a while to be sure. I estimate things won't be too calm on your side either, so hold down your side, and I'll stay in constant contact with Tang Auntie—she'll help me."

My heart eased.

With Auntie helping, I don't need to worry too much about Senior Sister's side.

After giving a few more reminders, I hung up and closed the refrigerator door: "Qingying sister, let's stay put—keep the Dang Pu open as usual each night, and see what happens next."

Li Qingying replied: "Okay, Xiao Jiu, I'll follow your lead."

That night, I and Li Qingying guarded the Dang Pu until midnight; all was calm.

I saw the time was about right—those who were supposed to come would have already arrived.

We closed the Dang Pu door and waited a bit longer.

At one o'clock, we each went to bed to prepare for sleep.

Liu Junyan went to Jiǔyàn qū and hasn't returned yet.

I had just fallen asleep not long when I heard urgent knocking.

My first reaction was that someone was knocking on the Dang Pu door; I got up and realized it was Li Qingying knocking on my bedroom door, anxiously saying: "Xiao Jiu, something's happened—get up quickly."

I took a few steps over, opened the door, and asked: "Qingying sister, what's wrong?"

Li Qingying grabbed me and ran straight to the west room.

As soon as I entered, I was stunned.

The copper coin person statue on the shrine… shattered.

Scattered across the main god's seat on the shrine was a large patch of black… bone?

Li Qingying said: "I never imagined the copper coin person actually had a skeleton inside, and it's this black—could it be poisoned?"

I shook my head: "It doesn't look like poisoning; normally when a person is poisoned, the toxin first attacks the nervous, respiratory, and digestive systems, and the bones don't necessarily turn black. Even if the toxin acted on the bones, having the entire skeleton jet‑black yet smooth and glossy, without any corrosion, is almost impossible."

My first thought was to ask Bai Shulan to come over and ask, but then I remembered she might be in the midst of her tribulation right now.

I felt a bit regretful.

Bai Jingmo's condition is also not good.

After thinking it over, I took several photos and sent them separately to Jiang Four Lack and Jin Wuya.

Both of them are considered strange craftsmen, well‑versed and knowledgeable; maybe they can spot something.

In the dead of night, I originally thought they'd already be asleep, but unexpectedly both replied to my messages in turn.

Jiang Four Lack's message: "If I'm not mistaken, this should be a kind of cinnabar bone; let me come over personally to examine it."

Jin Wuya first sent over a picture.

The picture shows the bone whistle I gave him.

The bone whistle was obtained by Liu Junyan from the fake ascetic monk during the battle at Small Camp Mouth.

This thing is overly sinister; Liu Junyan feared I wouldn't be able to withstand its backlash when using it, so I gave it to Jin Wuya, asking him to find a way to suppress it.

This has been going on for a while; from the picture we can see Jin Wuya has indeed worked on it—the carved areas… the color seems off.

Within the bone‑white interior a faint hint of… red?

I was about to reply asking for clarification when Jin Wuya's call came through; I answered immediately.

Jin Wuya's weary voice came from the other end: "Xiao Jiu Zhanggui, you're back at the Dang Pu? I wanted to find you a couple days ago, but Shi Rou told me to wait a bit longer, saying you'd probably be busy these two days."

Hmm?

That latter part sounds kind of strange.

If I remember correctly, the Shi Family should be south of Dayu Ridge, thousands of kilometers away from Song Mountain; how could Shi Rou be so aware of my every move?

Jin Wuya didn't give me time to speculate, jumping straight to the point: "Did you look at the picture I just sent you? I also looked at the picture you sent me—coincidentally, this is also what I wanted to tell you."

I frowned: "What is it?"

"Xiao Jiu Zhanggui, have you heard of cinnabar bone?" Jin Wuya asked seriously.

My heart skipped a beat—just now Jiang Four Lack had said those black bones resembled cinnabar bone.

Jin Wuya asking again like that makes it nearly certain that the copper coin person's pile of black bones is cinnabar bone.

I answered truthfully: "I've never heard of it before; could you explain it to me?"

Jin Wuya explained slowly: "In this world, cinnabar bone comes in two types: one is artificially made, the other is cultivated.

Artificially made cinnabar bone is black; it is produced by injecting cinnabar into the human body through a special method over a long period. Ordinary people cannot withstand it, so such cinnabar bone is extremely rare in the world.

As for cultivated cinnabar bone, I only heard my master mention it in a story; he said that kind of cinnabar bone is entirely blood‑red, crystal clear, with circulating blood inside the bones—it is a living thing, also a spiritual object. Those who can cultivate to that level are not in heaven, but underground."

I was shocked by Jin Wuya's words.

Not in heaven, then on earth…… refers to such a person—either they have become immortals, or they have entered the underworld?

My throat felt a bit tight: "So what?"

Jin Wuya also didn't beat around the bush, excitedly saying: "So, thanks to Xiao Jiu Zhanggui's blessing, I actually saw both kinds of cinnabar bone within three days."

My hand holding the phone was trembling.

That is to say, the Copper Coin Person's internal skeleton is cinnabar bone artificially refined; while the true material of the bone whistle is another kind of cinnabar bone cultivated through practice?

Jin Wuya continued: "Actually, a few days ago I had already started carving runes onto the bone whistle; I considered my carving skill still quite superb, but I didn't expect that within a few days this little thing broke three of my carving tools; until two days ago, I applied a bit more force with my knife, chipping off a piece of the outer white bone, revealing the material inside; after repeatedly comparing, I confirmed that it was a piece of cinnabar spirit bone..."