Chapter 487: Gold Shackles Silver Lock

As soon as the words fell, Li Qingying covered her mouth with one hand and pointed at my shoulder with the other, whimpering with particular excitement.

I was left bewildered by her, and I tilted my head to look at my right shoulder.

I then saw a tiny figure sitting on my right shoulder.

The little person was no bigger than an egg; I had to squint my eyes into a slit and strain to see clearly the two pigtails braided on her head.

The moment I saw her, I recalled the painting Tang Xun had given me back then.

In that painting was a girl wearing a red-and-black archery outfit, drawing her bow.

On the girl's shoulder sat such a tiny figure.

Tang Xun said that back then it was she who entrusted the painting to me, urging that if I ever met you, I should tell you that she had always been searching for her master.

Just now, when Li Qingying spoke, I immediately thought of Feng Wu.

Because it seemed only she could absorb the heat within my body.

I never expected she would actually absorb it and even manifest a human form.

The tiny figure leapt from my shoulder down to the ground, where it turned into a six- or seven-year-old girl, exquisitely carved like pink jade.

Li Qingying and I both instinctively crouched, surrounding her, and I softly called out, 'Feng Wu, is it really you?'

The little girl nodded, but she could not speak.

Moreover, even this small action seemed to consume a great deal of her strength, as her form grew somewhat faint.

It seems her transformation is still unstable.

I felt both excited and regretful.

I was excited that Feng Wu had finally taken form, but regretful that her form remained unstable, making communication impossible.

If Feng Wu could speak, I could ask her many, many things.

She is my natal magic artifact!

Feng Wu's figure swayed, feeling as if a gust could blow her away, so I hurriedly put her away.

Li Qingying asked, 'Xiao Jiu, Feng Wu has absorbed the Nirvana energy within your body—does that mean you no longer need to return to Nirvana?'

That question left me speechless.

I shook my head: 'Feng Wu only absorbed the portion of Nirvana energy I couldn't bear, which was originally excess, so I still need to return to Nirvana when the time comes.'

And the arrival of that moment will not be far off.

I had originally planned that after returning from Yin Dang Hang, I would settle everything and then head straight back to Cangwu Mountain.

But this trip to the Nether Realm has given me too much information, leaving me now somewhat hesitant.

Liu Junyan is very likely now in the Nether Realm.

Yiluan was flayed.

And Wangsi City…

I anxiously scratched my head; these matters were tangled and impossible to sort out, so I had Li Qingying call Hui Moqiong, asking them all to come back, as I had things to discuss.

After thinking, I also called Fang Chuanzong to explain the situation.

As a result, upon hearing what I said, Fang Chuanzong immediately decided to come over.

When Fang Chuanzong arrived, Hui Moqiong, Hu Yulin, and Huang Fan were also present.

Fang Chuanzong had long been accustomed to us, and without avoiding anyone, he directly asked, 'Xiao Jiu Zhanggui, please describe again what those two gold and silver tokens look like.'

I then repeated it once more.

In summary: 'Both ends of the two tokens are carved with ghost faces; the gold one resembles a shackle, the silver one a lock.'

'Exactly, Gold Shackles Silver Lock!' Fang Chuanzong slapped his thigh, excitedly saying, 'Xiao Jiu Zhanggui truly has fortune's favor—actually encountering the Gold General and Silver General in the Nether Realm!'

I puzzled, 'Gold General and Silver General? Elder Fang, do you know them?'

'How could I possibly know such important figures!' Fang Chuanzong exclaimed excitedly, 'I've only heard that the Gold General and Silver General are the predecessors of the two Black and White Impermanence; they come from the Chenghuang Temple, specializing in apprehending major villains and evildoers, but because they keep a low profile and their whereabouts are uncertain, few people know of them.'

I frowned, 'No, Elder Fang, you must be mistaken—during last year's New Year's merit evaluation, the Yin officials who came included the Gold General; how could our little pawnshop possibly summon such a great deity?'

Fang Chuanzong shook his head firmly, 'There must be some hidden circumstance here, Xiao Jiu Zhanggui; the Gold Shackles Silver Lock are the tokens of those two Yin officials, impossible for anyone to dare forge, and I won't be mistaken.'

Hidden circumstance?

My eyes suddenly lit up.

If there truly is a hidden circumstance… then it must be the Cangwu Nether Seal!

I have often speculated who, through the hands of the Yin officials, passed the Cangwu Nether Seal to me.

I have suspected the Seven Halls Yama, and also suspected the master of Yin Dang Hang, but now it even involves the Gold General!

If Fang Chuanzong's information is correct, the Gold General and Silver General serve in the Chenghuang Temple… the Chenghuang Temple!

After going around in circles, all the matters once again formed a loop.

Before, they still said that although Yin Dang Hang bears the name 'Chenghuang Temple's Heaven and Earth Pawnshop,' it is likely merely because it neighbors the Chenghuang Temple, not actually subordinate to it.

But now it seems that even without a subordinate relationship, Yin Dang Hang and the Chenghuang Temple must inevitably have countless connections!

And Feng Wu Jiu from back then had acquaintances with them!

No wonder the Gold General and Silver General, upon seeing me, greeted me like old acquaintances, coming up and saying hello.

What they know is the Feng Wu Jiu of former days!

They must certainly know many hidden circumstances.

Yet why do they never reveal even a hint to me?

I tentatively asked, 'Elder Fang, does the duty of escorting ghosts into Wangsi City fall under the Gold General and Silver General?'

'It depends on who is being detained.' Fang Chuanzong stroked his chin, his eyes full of excitement, 'No wonder I searched high and low this time and still found no trace of Liu Qiye; it turns out the matter has exceeded my capabilities, Xiao Jiu Zhanggui—from now on I'll help you more with the construction plans for the Jiuyan District, and besides, I'll help you look up information and run errands.'

How do I feel he's just wanting to watch from the other shore, like watching a big show?

Can I let him be so leisurely?

"Fang Lao, you can't slack off; I still have many things I'm counting on you to help me with." I said earnestly, "Some things are just hard for us to uncover on our own; I need your powerful behind-the-scenes connections."

Fang Chuanzong's smile vanished instantly, and he said solemnly, "Xiao Jiu Zhanggui, tell me, what do you want me to help you investigate?"

I then recounted in full detail everything that had happened to me that night to everyone.

Everyone listened, their faces showing utter disbelief.

They were anxious, yet didn't know where to begin.

As Fang Chuanzong said, the matter involves the Nether Realm, the Chenghuang Temple, and the Wǎngsǐ Chéng—it's no longer within their reach.

I then said to Fang Chuanzong, "Fang Lao, I need you to investigate three things: one, whether Di Luan still has a twin brother; two, recently there have been temples in China where many people have died—investigate those thoroughly; three, please go to Song Mountain to confirm whether Empty Silence Abbott is still at the Great Dharma King Temple—I need the most accurate information..."