Chapter 439: Chapter 431 Guidance
Three days later, Qin Liuxi and her companions returned to Li City. During these three days, though they did not traverse every nook and cranny of Ling County, they dropped several foot hairs in their effort to destroy the clay figurines that had emanated from Nuwa Temple.
Those dozen or so clay figurines, already implanted into human fetuses, were destroyed along with the Soul Summoning Talisman. For those families that evidently did not regard baby girls as human, Qin Liuxi personally entered their dreams to deliver a warning: treat them well or suffer consequences. What would ultimately become of these families was beyond her control.
As for the families with decent fortune and circumstances, she only destroyed the talismans, because such families, even if they had a baby girl, would raise her, thereby avoiding repeated miscarriages.
Those that had not been implanted into a fetus, Qin Liuxi collected them all, planning to ensure their transcendence upon returning, setting up an altar to ask the Ghost Messenger to pack them up and send them off.
The last one was in Li City, coincidentally located next to Changshou Square in Qingle Square.
Qin Liuxi let Deng Dawu, who had been running around with her for several days, return home without giving him Silver as a reward for his hard work, but she gave him several peace charms and two Peace Formulas for regulating the body, which were capable of strengthening and ensuring long life.
Deng Dawu joyously returned home.
Following Qin Liuxi for several days had been eye-opening for him; he learned that the Nuwa Temple harmed people, and they were there to destroy the clay figurines. Along the way, if they encountered sick people, they would even perform acupuncture and prescribe medicine, and some people would offer some profound advices. As for rewards, it was casual; she would accept whatever people offered.
This female crown, while kind-hearted, thought that before the New Year, she must visit Qingping Temple to procure a divine statue to bring back home for worship to ensure the peace and safety of her family.
Unaware that she had gained a follower, Qin Liuxi stood in front of the home where the last clay figurine was located and glanced at the dwelling, her eyebrows slightly raised.
Feng Miuxiong stepped forward and said, “Among many homes we’ve seen, this one possesses the densest Golden Fortune Energy, it seems that the baby soul in this clay figurine is somewhat fortunate.”
Qin Liuxi nodded.
Such thick Golden Fortune Energy proved that this family was fortunate. Being born here, the soul would surely not suffer the poor fate of those involved in repeated reincarnations.
“Who are you looking for?”
Behind them, a voice called out.
Qin Liuxi and her group turned around, only to see a young man in his twenties supporting a woman of about the same age whose belly was slightly protruding, indicating she was a few months pregnant.
Opening her Heavenly Eye, Qin Liuxi could tell in an instant whether the baby she was carrying was a boy or a girl.
“We were just passing by, we noticed that this pomegranate tree was growing well and took a second look,” Qin Liuxi pointed at the pomegranate tree poking out over the wall.
The young couple, seeing them looking so handsome and exuding an aura of nobility, not resembling bad characters, looked at each other and smiled, “The fruit from our pomegranate tree is also very sweet; you should come and try some when it’s fruiting.”
“Sure,” Qin Liuxi responded with a beaming smile. “We are just staying in the Red and White Street of Shouxi Square, close by, and we will certainly visit when it’s time.”
The young couple, not expecting them to be so nearby, smiled and said, “Turns out we’re neighbors—you’re welcome anytime.”
“Meeting is fate, I offer early congratulations to the scholar on his joyous occasion with the tiles, this child will bring fortune to the scholar,” Qin Liuxi handed over a peace charm, “This talisman is a gift for the scholar, wishing you a smooth examination journey in Shangjing.”
The young man was stunned until his wife nudged him, then he hurriedly accepted it and thanked her.
Only then did Qin Liuxi, along with Feng Miuxiong, leave.
Teng Zhao asked, “Master, don’t we need to deal with the clay figurine from their family?”
“It’s already been destroyed.”
Feng Miuxiong flicked his forehead, “Your master is very capable, you should learn from her.”
The young couple, somewhat bewildered, returned home, where an old woman upon seeing them, anxiously asked, “Have you returned?”
The young man nodded, gave it some thought, and then shared the recent incident at the front door of his house.
The elderly woman was momentarily startled, then clapped her hands in joy and laughed, “It seems you have encountered an enlightened person’s guidance, next year Liang’s examination is bound to bring forth good fortune. Also, having the joy of tiling – that’s not bad at all, this is your first child, blooming before bearing fruit, just like our pomegranate tree.”
After hearing her mother-in-law’s words, the young wife breathed a sigh of relief and then added, “That person said the child would bring luck to Liang.”
“The moment she joined our family, she brought good fortune,” the old woman laughed and said: “Come in quickly, it’s cold outside.”
The young wife entered the room and subconsciously glanced towards a clay figurine displayed on a small table in front of the bed. Upon a closer look, she was stunned again – why had the figurine turned black?
She picked it up, felt a burn, loosened her grip, and the figurine fell and shattered. Inside its abdomen, there was some black ash, as if it had just been burned.
The young wife felt a jolt in her heart, placed both hands on her stomach, and as if responding to her touch, the baby kicked, softening her facial expression.
Was it because the baby was coming that the clay figurine had completed its task?
The young wife fetched a broom, swept up the clay figurine, and buried it under the pomegranate tree.
…
Since the beginning of winter, there were fewer people on the streets, and when Qin Liuxi and his companions returned to Feichang Dao, they noticed several beggars squatting by the shop wall, glanced curiously at them, then entered the shop.
Despite wearing a thick cotton hat and a green cotton-padded jacket, Teng Zhao’s eyelashes and eyebrows were still frosted over.
He looked enviously at his master and Feng Xiu; at their level of cultivation, they were completely unaffected by the cold, wearing thin clothes and not feeling cold at all.
That old demon was even flaunting a layer of gauze outside, looking extremely dashing and unrestrained.
“Master is back.” Chen Pi greeted Qin Liuxi upon seeing him: “You’ve been gone quite long this time, ah, Boss Feng, you’re back too?”
Feng Xiu said, “I thought Little Chen Pi didn’t even notice me.”
“How could that be?” Chen Pi, under Feng Xiu’s satisfied look, added another line: “I just didn’t notice for a moment.”
Feng Xiu: “…”
Ignoring such a big person is no less than disregarding the little prince in your eyes.
Such an insult!
Wan Ce also came forward to greet and first curiously looked at Feng Xiu, who was so handsome he hardly looked real, then noticed the frost on Teng Zhao’s eyelashes and said, “I’ll go fetch a bowl of ginger soup for the little Taoist. Brother Chen Pi, please serve them the medicinal tea first.”
Qin Liuxi pushed Teng Zhao inside: “Go to the back kitchen and wash your face with hot water.”
Watching Teng Zhao go in, Qin Liuxi then asked Chen Pi, “How did you know to prepare ginger soup?”
Chen Pi replied, “The weather has been getting colder these days. A few days ago, someone collapsed in front of our shop, and the General and the others saw it, so they asked us to serve a bowl of ginger soup and also gave some silver, asking us to keep it ready in case someone can’t stand the cold and needs help. Some beggars heard of this and came over.”
“That explains the increase in refugees and beggars at the front door,” Qin Liuxi suddenly understood.
Chen Pi continued, “The General spent some silver, so I just went ahead and cooked up the medicinal tea as well. It’s good for entertaining guests, and if not, we or even those outside can have it, and it didn’t cost much anyway.”
“Good.”
Feng Xiu lazily accepted the warm medicinal tea from Chen Pi and commented, “This General, quite good at making connections.”
Qin Liuxi squinted at him: “Shouldn’t you be heading back to Changsheng Hall?”