This celestial master cultivates both physical and magical arts; why did you provoke him?

Fang Zijian recently discovered something interesting.

He squatted on the steps of Qingheju Restaurant, flipping through the backend data and the comments section.

The more I look at it, the funnier it becomes.

The controversies surrounding Xia En online, such as being "greedy," "ruthless," and "unlike a Taoist priest," are almost nowhere to be seen in the comments section.

Instead, all the comments were uniformly "Shane is awesome," "Shane, save me," and "When is Shane coming to our place?"

Those voices that used to criticize Xia En have completely disappeared!

He scrolled through his private messages, took a few screenshots, and ran to Xia En.

"Look, this was posted by an old lady yesterday. She said her neighborhood is haunted, and the property management has invited several Taoist priests, but nothing works. Her son showed her the video you posted online about dealing with the zombie king, and she said this kid is good, he seems honest, and she insists on inviting you over."

Xia En lay on the wicker chair, a lollipop in his mouth, and glanced at the screen.

"How much did she offer?"

"She didn't mention money. But she said she has two houses and could sell one."

Xia En paused for a moment.

Tell her she doesn't need to sell the house. I'll come over and take a look; I won't charge her for minor issues.

Fang Zijian paused for a moment, then laughed and quickly replied with a private message.

A few minutes later, the old lady sent several voice messages, her voice trembling with excitement:

"Thank you, Master Xia! Thank you! I live at No. 42 Tangfang Lane in the old town. I'll be waiting for you!"

Xia En stood up and handed the lollipop to Ma Xiaoling.

"Walk."

Ma Xiaoling took the lollipop and followed.

Fang Zijian, holding his phone, followed.

Old town area, Tangfang Lane.

This alley is older than any I've been to before. The bluestone pavement is smooth as a mirror from the wear and tear of time, and the old houses on both sides are at least a hundred years old.

Number 42 is a two-story brick and wood structure building with white lime plaster on the exterior walls, but the plaster has peeled off and is now mottled, revealing the blue bricks underneath.

The old lady's surname was Zhou, she was over seventy years old, and her hair was completely white.

But he's in good spirits.

She stood in the doorway, wearing a faded blue blouse and leaning on a cane.

Upon seeing Xia En, she quickly approached and grabbed his hand.

"You're Master Xia? You look even younger and more energetic than in the videos!"

Xia En smiled.

"Grandma Zhou, is your house haunted?"

"Well, it's not that it's haunted, it's just that there are always noises at night."

Grandma Zhou pulled Xia En inside. "Every night in the attic, there are footsteps, 'thump thump thump,' walking back and forth. I live alone, and I'm terrified. I've consulted several Taoist priests, some saying it's an evil spirit, others saying it's bad feng shui. We've spent a lot of money and all that trouble, but the noise is still there."

Xia En went into the house.

The living room wasn't big, but it was very clean.

The furniture was all old-fashioned and spotless.

A black and white photograph hangs on the wall; it shows a young man in military uniform.

That's my wife.

Grandma Zhou looked at the photo. "He's been gone for twenty years. If he were still here, I wouldn't be afraid."

Xia En didn't say anything, walked to the top of the stairs, and looked up at the attic.

The yin energy was very faint, almost imperceptible.

But he heard it.

There were indeed footsteps in the attic.

Very lightly, very slowly, pacing back and forth.

"I'll go up and take a look."

He went up the stairs.

The wooden stairs were very steep, and they creaked as you stepped on them.

The attic door was closed, with a faint light shining through the crack.

He pushed open the door and went inside.

The attic was small and filled with old things.

An old-fashioned wardrobe, chests, and a dressing table with peeling paint.

The windows were closed, and the curtains were drawn tightly shut.

Instead, there was a faint sandalwood scent in the air.

The footsteps stopped.

Xia En looked around and finally her gaze fell on a chair in front of the dressing table.

There was nothing on the chair, but the seat was slightly dented, as if someone had sat on it.

"Come out."

Xia En said.

Silent for a long time.

Then, a faint figure appeared on the chair.

He was an elderly man, over seventy years old, wearing an old military uniform, with gray hair and a kind face.

He was translucent, a shape formed from a condensed mist.

He looked at Xia En with no malice in his eyes, only a deep, indescribable longing.

"Are you Master Xia?"

The old man spoke, his voice as soft as the wind, "I've heard of you."

Xia En looked at him.

"Are you Grandma Zhou's husband?"

"Yes. I've been dead for twenty years. But I can't leave."

The old man lowered his head, looking at his hands. "I worry about her all alone. Every night, I come to check on her. I check if she's eaten, slept, and taken her medicine. I don't dare let her see me; I'm afraid it will frighten her. I just walk around in this attic, listening to what's going on downstairs. If she's alright, I'm relieved."

Xia En paused for a moment.

"If you stay in the mortal realm like this, it will deplete your soul. In time, you will be completely destroyed, and you won't even have the chance to be reincarnated."

"I know."

The old man looked up and smiled. "But I don't care. As long as she's here, I'll stay by her side. When she's gone, I'll go with her."

Xia En looked at the old man and remained silent for a long time.

Then he turned around and walked down the stairs.

Grandma Zhou stood at the top of the stairs, watching him nervously.

"Master Xia, how is it?"

Xia En looked at her and suddenly smiled.

"Grandma Zhou, there are no evil spirits in the attic. It's an old friend watching over you."

Grandma Zhou was stunned.

"An old friend? Who?"

"Your spouse."

Grandma Zhou's tears welled up instantly. "He...he's still alive?"

"Yes. He's here every night. He's worried about you, afraid you'll be lonely."

Grandma Zhou covered her mouth and burst into tears.

She looked up at the direction of the attic, her voice trembling.

"Old man... why don't you come out and see me...?"

In the attic, a faint figure appeared at the top of the stairs.

He looked at Grandma Zhou, and his eyes also reddened.

But he didn't go down; he just stood there, looking at her.

Xia En walked to the top of the stairs and looked up at the old man.

"You can go down. She's not afraid of you."

The old man shook his head.

"No. I'll scare her if I look like this."

"She won't be afraid of you. You're her husband."

The old man hesitated for a long time.

Then, he slowly, step by step, walked down the stairs.

He walked very slowly, taking each step carefully, afraid of disturbing something.

He walked up to Grandma Zhou and stopped.

Grandma Zhou looked up at him.

She couldn't see him, but she could feel him.

"Old man, is that you?"

The old man's tears fell.

"it's me."

His voice was very soft, as soft as the wind, and Grandma Zhou heard it.

"You old fool...you've been gone for twenty years...and haven't come back to see me..."

Grandma Zhou reached out her hand and groped in the air.

The old man reached out his hand, wanting to shake hers.

But his hand passed through hers and touched nothing.

Grandma Zhou's hand froze in mid-air, as if she were waiting for something.

"I come every night."

The old man's voice broke, "I come every night. I watch you eat, sleep, and take your medicine from the attic. You're not well, and I'm very worried."

"I'm perfectly healthy."

Grandma Zhou wiped away her tears. "You don't need to worry."

"How can I not worry? You're all alone, with no one to talk to."

"I have neighbors, friends, and community leaders. I have a lively life."

The old man smiled.

"You're lying. You love being around people, but now you live alone in this old house. I know even if you don't say it."

Grandma Zhou's tears fell again.

"Then come back. Come back and be with me."

The old man fell silent.

He turned his head and looked at Shane.

Xia En looked at the elderly couple and remained silent for a long time.

Then he spoke.

"Old man, you can no longer stay in the mortal world. Your soul is already severely depleted. If you stay any longer, your soul will be scattered. Then you will truly never see her again."

The old man's expression changed.

Grandma Zhou got anxious.

"No! You can't leave!"

"Grandma Zhou."

Xia En looked at her. "He has to leave. Not for his own sake, but for yours. If he stays here, his soul will slowly dissipate."

"In the end, he won't even have the chance to be reincarnated. Do you want his soul to be scattered to the winds?"

Grandma Zhou opened her mouth, but couldn't speak.

After a long time, she lowered her head.

"I don't want to."

The old man looked at Grandma Zhou, tears streaming down his face.

"I'm leaving now. Take good care of yourself. Eat on time, take your medicine on time, wear more clothes when it's cold, and don't always stay cooped up at home alone."

"understood."

"Also, don't always hang that black and white photo on the wall. Seeing it will make you sad. Put it away, and only take it out to look at it when you miss me."

"it is good."

"Also, your back isn't good, so don't bend over too much. When you sleep at night, put a pillow under your lower back."

"I understand." Grandma Zhou cried so hard she couldn't speak.

The old man turned around and looked at Xia En.

"Master Xia, thank you."

He bowed deeply in gratitude.

Then his figure began to fade, and the mist dissipated in the sunlight.

"You old bastard—!"

Grandma Zhou reached out her hand, but grabbed nothing.

The stairwell was empty; there was nothing there.

Grandma Zhou squatted on the ground, crying like a child.

Xia En stood to the side without saying a word.

Ma Xiaoling's eyes reddened.

Fang Zijian held up his phone, his hand trembling, but he didn't take a picture.

After a long while, Grandma Zhou stood up and wiped away her tears.

She looked at Xia En and smiled.

"Thank you, Master Xia. I'm relieved that he's gone. He doesn't need to come see me every night anymore."

Xia En nodded. "Grandma Zhou, if you need anything in the future, feel free to contact me. It's free."

Grandma Zhou smiled and said, "Okay."

On the way back, Ma Xiaoling sat in the car, looking out the window, without saying a word.

Fang Zijian drove, glancing at her every now and then.

"What's wrong with you?"

"It's nothing. I just feel that ghosts are kinder than humans."

Xia En glanced at her. "Are you still thinking about that sentence?"

"Um."

Ma Xiaoling turned to look at Xia En, "Senior brother, you're right. Ghosts have no desires, no greed, no selfishness. They only have obsessions."

"Good obsessions can be moving. Bad obsessions can be frightening. But whether good or bad, they are pure. Unlike humans, who are too complicated."

Xia En paused for a moment.

"But there are good people too."

"I know."

Ma Xiaoling laughed, "Like you."

Xia En glanced at her. "Me?"

"You are a good person. You are greedy for money, but not greedy. You are ruthless, but not cruel. You help people without expecting anything in return. You take money, but not for yourself."

Ma Xiaoling looked at his profile and said, "Senior brother, you are a good person."

Xia En remained silent for a long time before saying, "You talk too much."

Ma Xiaoling smiled.

That evening, Fang Zijian wrote an article about this experience and posted it online. The title was:

"Shane helped an old lady see her husband off. The old man had watched over her in the attic for twenty years, visiting her every night. Shane didn't accept any money. He said, 'I don't charge for small favors.'"

At the end of the article, he wrote the following:

"Many people say that Xia En is greedy for money. But they don't know that Xia En is greedy for money because he needs the money to repair the Celestial Master's Mansion and help more people. He never talks about money with those who really need help. He only has one standard for charging: whether your difficulties are truly difficult."

The comments section exploded.

"I cried. He's been watching over her for twenty years, coming to see her every night."

"Shane refused to accept money because he knew this family was truly struggling."

"That's Xia En for you. He says he loves money, but he's soft-hearted than anyone else."

"His strength needs no further explanation. In the eyes of the common people, Xia En's combat power and efficiency in eliminating demons are the highest."

When the news reached Longhu Mountain, Zhang Jingxuan was meditating in the back hall.

Zhang Jingqing walked in with her phone and read the article to him.

After listening, Zhang Jingxuan remained silent for a long time.

"This kid is becoming more and more like a Taoist master."

Zhang Jingqing smiled. "Master, you've said that many times."

"Because every time he does something, I feel that he has made progress."

Zhang Jingxuan opened his eyes and looked at Longhu Mountain outside the window. "This time, he learned a lesson: the duty of a Celestial Master is not to catch ghosts, but to bring peace to people's hearts."

Zhang Jingqing was stunned for a moment.

"To reassure people?"

"Yes. The old man's spirit lingered for twenty years, not because he didn't want to leave, but because he couldn't let go of his worries."

"Xia En helped him let go, and his heart is at peace, as is the old lady's. This is what a Taoist priest should do."

Zhang Jingxuan stood up and walked to the window. "His thunder magic can defeat a hundred evil creatures, but his heart can only find peace in one person. But once that person is at peace, his heart is at peace."