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Like an emissary from the Netherworld's Yan Luo Temple.

Shiiun had been by Gu Changjin's side since he was seven years old.

Together, they had braved mountains of corpses and seas of blood, experienced betrayal from those as close as siblings, and survived countless volleys of arrows and bullets. Shiiun's heart had grown calloused over time, making it difficult for him to feel empathy or pain easily.

Yet, at this very moment, witnessing Gu Changjin's frenzied state, the casual demeanor on Shiiun's face vanished, replaced solely by profound sorrow.

He had lost his dear brother, Chang Ji.

And their master, not only lost his brother but also his wife.

Their master had always been their anchor, their steadfast compass.

If their master said he would be safe, they believed him. If he said they would reach the end together, they trusted him without hesitation.

In Shiiun's eyes, their master was as immovable as Mount Tai.

Even in the face of utter despair, he could always find a way out.

Shiiun clenched his teeth, and after a long while, he said, "Master, Lady Chang is no more."

A deceased person couldn't be roused by any commotion.

Gu Changjin's obsidian eyes gazed silently at Shiiun.

"I know," he replied. "But Shiiun, she disliked being disturbed by others."

Whether she was alive or dead, he couldn't do anything that she disliked.

Shiiun released his grip on his teeth, and his eyelids instantly grew hot, unable to hold back the tears. Lowering his misty gaze, he spoke softly, "Chang Ji... He was in the side chamber. He died from poisoning. Before his end, he clawed the shape of a longbow into his palm with his nails."

Poisoning.

Longbow.

Gu Changjin's breathing stilled momentarily. After a moment, he bowed his head, gently wiping away the bloodstain from the corner of her mouth with his slender fingers.

"She wouldn't have wanted those around her to die with her. Mother Zhang, Yingyue, and Ying Que aren't here; they must have fled. You personally lead a group to chase after them, and make sure to capture Mother Zhang." He paused before adding, "Send a few others to search for Heng Ping. There's no way he would abandon Chang Ji. Either he perished elsewhere or he's been trapped somewhere."

Shiiun acknowledged with a "Yes" and turned to head for the door.

Gu Changjin suddenly called out to stop him, "I'll take her to a quiet place first. For half a day, I'll be absent. After that, I'll come looking for you. And Chang Ji, I'll bury him personally."

Shiiun replied with a simple "Okay."

After Shiiun left, Gu Changjin placed Rong Shu gently on the couch. He kissed her forehead and said, "I know you won't blame Chang Ji for not protecting you well enough, but he will surely feel guilty and won't be able to rest in peace. I'll bury him first and tell him you don't blame him so he can leave peacefully."

The girl on the couch kept her eyes closed, not saying a word.

Gu Changjin gazed at her for a moment before heading to a side room. There was a secret passage leading to the restricted area of Daci'en Temple within this chamber. Chang Ji had been sitting by the entrance, using his body to block it.

His eyes were wide open, still filled with the anger and resentment he felt before his death.

Gu Changjin looked at Chang Ji's swollen, darkened face, his jaw slowly tensing up.

All those who had been sent to serve by Gu Changjin's side came from impoverished backgrounds. They were either abandoned by their closest relatives or lost all their kin, becoming orphans with no one to rely on.

Like Chang Ji, who had lost his parents at a young age and lived with his sister under their uncle's roof.

During the great drought in Yanzhou, Chang Ji's younger sister was sold by their uncle and aunt for two steamed buns.

On that fateful day, his uncle deceived him, claiming that the village teacher's house was on fire. The teacher had a paralyzed mother, and Chang Ji, being kind-hearted, immediately ran from the end of the village to the other without hesitation. In that brief interval, his sister vanished, and the two steamed buns were devoured by his uncle's family of five.

Chang Ji killed his uncle and fled, pursuing his sister on an empty stomach for dozens of miles until he collapsed by the roadside, barely clinging to life.

Impressed by his ruthlessness, Xiao Fu took him in, making him Gu Changjin's first personal attendant.

Gu Changjin accompanied him in search of his sister, but all they found were her pair of shoes.

It was clear what motives lay behind exchanging two steamed buns for an unknown child in those circumstances.

Gu Changjin ordered the execution of those responsible and constructed a tomb with her clothes as a memorial.

Chang Ji was fiercely protective and employed the most brutal methods.

He despised traitors with a vengeance.

The other attendant who had stabbed Gu Changjin in the back met a gruesome end at Chang Ji's hands.

A phrase he often uttered was, "Whenever I try to do good, it ends up costing lives. Since I can't be a virtuous man, I'll be a villain. Whoever harms you, I'll eliminate them."

Gu Changjin knew that among his attendants, Chang Ji had the fondest affection for Rong Shu.

Approaching, he placed his hand over Chang Ji's eyes and spoke gently, "She doesn't blame you, neither do I. You can go now."

His hand slowly descended, and the man who had carried out Gu Changjin's orders until his last breath finally closed his eyes.

Gu Changjin buried Chang Ji beneath a catalpa tree in the Sishi Garden.

He didn't erect a tombstone for Chang Ji. Once all matters were settled, he would send him back to Yanzhou to be laid to rest beside his sister's memorial grave.

When he carried Rong Shu out of the sleeping quarters, the rain had finally ceased.

Gu Changjin wiped her face, combed her hair, and dressed her in clean clothes. Passing through a long secret passage in an annex, they arrived at the restricted area of Daci'en Temple.

Xuan Ce emerged from his bamboo cottage, seeing the lifeless girl in Gu Changjin's arms. He furrowed his brow but remained silent.

Gu Changjin said, "I need a quiet place to lay her to rest."

Xuan Ce's gaze lingered on Gu Changjin's face for a long while before he nodded. "Follow me."

The restricted area of Daci'en Temple was, in fact, a cemetery, where the temple's sinners were laid to rest.

Sinners, they were buried without cremation, leaving no relics behind.

Activating a mechanism, Xuan Ce pushed a coffin made of golden nanmu wood toward Gu Changjin and said, "This is the coffin I prepared for Fan Qing. You can use it. I knew you would come back to take her away, and I'll keep watch over this place for you."

"Thank you."

Inside the coffin were incense ashes and quicklime. Gu Changjin placed Rong Shu inside and quietly accompanied her in the chilly tomb for half a day.