From Paper Craftsman to World-Suppressing Immortal

Linshuigu, a ferry crossing on the canal.

The setting sun cast a hazy yellow glow, its afterglow like blood, staining a large expanse of the river red.

At this time, the altar for the salvation ceremony had been set up by the canal.

This altar was built with the combined efforts of half the people of Linshuigu. It is constructed along the river and has three levels. The top level is dedicated to the Three Pure Ones and the Three Treasures Heavenly Venerable, while the middle level is dedicated to the Nine Netherworlds Exorcism Tablet. The five offerings of incense, flowers, lamps, water, and fruit are all provided, along with yellow talismans, ritual bells, and tokens.

Yunya Daoist changed into a purple-gold robe embroidered with the sun, moon and stars. Qingxuan stood beside him holding a Dharma banner. Zhang Zhixuan and Wuming, along with the people of Linshuigu, spontaneously surrounded the altar, holding incense and candles, and stood quietly in solemn silence.

"The ritual shall begin!"

With a long shout from Daoist Yunya, melodious Daoist music rose in response. Daoist Yunya performed the ritual steps and chanted the "Supreme Mysterious Treasure Sutra for Saving from Suffering and Removing Sins." He struck the table with his token, and the Dharma bell rang gently. The burned talismans for salvation transformed into golden light that fell upon the memorial tablets of Xia Linyuan and many other innocent people who had died unjustly.

The clear and solemn sound of scriptures drifted far away on the river breeze, and the once turbulent river gradually calmed down, even the wind at the canal ferry crossing became much gentler.

As the ritual drew to a close, faint, ethereal soul figures slowly rose from the river. These soul figures included men and women, the old and the young, but among them, only one soul figure stood out from the rest.

This spirit was slender and young, only sixteen or seventeen years old. He wore a blue scholar's robe with a white jade pendant around his waist. He had handsome features and exuded the refined and scholarly air of a gentleman.

Zhang Zhixuan looked from afar and immediately recognized him as Xia Linyuan, the headless scholar who had helped him several times. At this moment, he was no longer the terrifying headless figure he had been. His face was handsome and his eyes held the determination of a young man. The headless soul of a hundred years had returned. All the confusion and obsession had dissipated, leaving only relief and peace.

He remained silent as numerous spirits stood on the water's surface. He first bowed deeply to the Taoist Yunya on the altar, performing a scholar's salute to thank him for his salvation. Then, he turned to face Zhang Zhixuan, Qingxuan, Wuming, and all the people holding candles on the riverbank, bowing once more to thank them for seeing him off.

The people are silent, yet their feelings are genuine and profound.

"Sending off an old friend!"

With a wave of his magic sword, the smoke from the incense and candles held by the people mingled with the smoke from the burning incense and candles on the altar, gradually forming a wide road leading to the heavens.

Those spirits standing on the water consciously walked onto the avenue paved with incense smoke and gradually disappeared into the distance.

"Big brother! Second brother!"

"Father! Mother!"

"Big brother..."

Some of the people standing on the shore recognized the ghost's identity and shouted loudly. In the end, one person cried, then a hundred people cried, and the cries merged into one, the mournful sounds echoing through the heavens and earth, making people's hearts ache.

Zhang Zhixuan looked at Xia Linyuan from afar. After a century of confusion, when he regained his senses, his old friend had long since passed away, leaving only his headless soul. Only today did he realize that he was who he was.

The souls of the dead have all departed, but Xia Linyuan remains standing on the water, gazing alone towards the southeast Songjiang River, his eyes filled with longing for his hometown.

Zhang Zhixuan understood what he was thinking. He stepped forward, bowed deeply to Xia Linyuan, and said with his hands clasped, "Mr. Xia, rest assured. After I finish what I have to do, I will personally bury your remains back in your hometown of Songjiang, so that you can rest in peace and return to your homeland."

"I, Zhang Zhixuan, hereby swear that I will never break my word."

Upon hearing this, Xia Linyuan's eyes flashed with emotion, and he bowed deeply to Zhang Zhixuan once again, bowing to the very end.

As he straightened up, he turned and stepped onto the path to the afterlife, slowly opening his mouth step by step:

"A traveler who has been banished for a hundred years, now wears the southern crown again."

Tears for the endless rivers and mountains, who can say that the world is vast?

Having already embarked on the road to the underworld, it is difficult to leave my hometown.

On the day the resolute spirit returns, its banner will be seen in the sky.

As the poem ended, Xia Linyuan's faint soul and the path to rebirth transformed into countless golden specks of light, dissipating into the mortal realm.

Zhang Zhixuan watched as the golden light completely disappeared into the horizon, sighed deeply, and looked somber.

-----------------

As night deepened, in the backwater bay, the police detectives responsible for collecting the remains and the hired civilians were preparing to return to town when suddenly everyone present froze in place in a bizarre manner.

The next second, two figures, one tall and one short, slowly appeared.

The two stood silently on the dark water of the backwater bay, scanning their surroundings before their gazes finally settled on the massive remains of the River Patrol King.

"I told you this stupid fish was unreliable. He was arrogant and reckless because he had some connections. He's finally met his match." The short figure's voice belonged to a young man, but his tone was sinister and had a strange quality that didn't match his age.

"It doesn't matter, its mission is complete, it's useless to keep it, it's better if it dies." This time it was a tall woman who spoke, her voice charming and alluring, yet every word was ruthless.

At this moment, the moonlight shone on the backwater bay, reflecting the faces of the two people. If Zhang Zhixuan were present, he would definitely recognize their identities.

The tall woman was none other than the long-lost Paper Wife.

At this moment, she was dressed in red, and her appearance was still the same as before: willow-leaf eyebrows, phoenix eyes, and cherry lips. But this time, the difference was that the paper wife's face was no longer a deathly pale color, but rather had a delicate, rosy glow, making her look like a living person.

But if you look closely, the paper bride's voice doesn't come from her mouth or throat, but from the top of her head!

There was a blood-red flower bud rooted above, which at first glance looked like an ornament, but it was actually a living thing. At this moment, the flower slowly opened its petals. With each opening and closing, the remaining demonic and yin energy in the entire backwater bay frantically gathered together and was sucked into the flower's mouth.

Zhang Zhixuan also recognized the short boy; he was none other than Xiao Huzi, who had served as an accomplice to the bandits and soldiers, but disappeared without a trace after Zhang Zhixuan killed them all.

"You scoundrel, you didn't even leave me any, you took it all?" The short boy complained sinisterly, not wanting to be left behind, he opened his big mouth and frantically sucked in the remaining demonic and yin energy, even sucking in the souls of the police officers and the people collecting the corpses who were still alive around him.

A moment later, the two smacked their lips, as if they had just enjoyed a feast.

"Alright, now that you've eaten and drunk your fill, it's time to get down to business," the woman urged.

"Hmm." The short boy responded lightly, raised his hand, and the dark waters of the backwater suddenly shook violently. A moment later, a huge black gourd with a long, thin crack burst out from the water.

The black gourd shrank from large to small, and in the blink of an eye, it became a small gourd the size of a palm, which landed in the hands of the short boy.

"Damn it, it's ruined like this! This is my treasure! Zhang Zhixuan, I'm not finished with you!" the short boy cursed angrily.

The woman scoffed, "What's with the pretentiousness? Go back and put it in my master's blood pool. It'll be fine in a day. Come and see how the stuff inside is doing!"

The short boy shook the gourd, then made a hand seal and chanted incantations. A moment later, the black gourd "banged" and spat out a bright red pill.

A rich fragrance wafted out, and after a few breaths, all the aroma was once again absorbed into the bright red pill.

The paper-daughter-in-law held the bright red pill in her hand, swallowed hard, and resisted the urge to eat it. She examined it carefully for a moment, then smiled and said, "This is the Human Spirit Pill! Not bad! That stupid fish didn't boast for nothing. The pill is complete! Now everything is ready, except for the 'key'."

"Our commander has awakened." The two men laughed triumphantly, and with a flash, they disappeared into the dark night.