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"Indeed," Li Shixian gave a bitter smile as he lifted his official robe to reveal his leg, starkly white with exposed bones. "I once harbored the delusion of crossing the River of Oblivion, but the waters of the River of Oblivion devour souls and flesh. In the end, I could only stay behind, practicing ghost cultivation to preserve my soul from perishing."

After his grandson's departure, he waited another hundred years. During this time, it was only then that a descendant, in a bout of confusion, accidentally burned a joss paper for him. Unbeknownst to them, it was picked up by Xiaozai.

With the prospect of fulfilling my vow to my beloved wife slipping away.

In a fit of anger, he took away Xiaozhai's soul. Originally, he intended only to frighten the boy into not picking up anything carelessly again, but he never expected to nearly fail in returning the child due to a miscalculation of time.

Having said this, Li Shixian lowered his head. "The fault lies with me, Shixian. I submit to the master's judgment without complaint or regret."

Upon hearing Li Shixian's story, the audience couldn't help but feel their hearts ache for him.

"Whether true or invented, the tale is quite well-crafted."

"Indeed, since it's all acting, why not give the audience a satisfying conclusion?"

There were even those who tugged on Yu Jiqing's arm, pressing a hundred yuan into his hand, "Host, I'll pay extra if you could write a happy ending for Li Shixian, sending him to the underworld to be reunited with his wife."

"Indeed, since we haven't found an actress for the Mrs. role, I can step in and do it without any issues," another lady chimed in.

Yu Jiqing held the money, his smile tinged with bitterness. How was he to explain that the individual in the arena was not, in fact, human?

Amidst the crowd, the young man, Li Guangming, was particularly taken aback when the elder in official robes appeared. His eyes widened as if he had witnessed something utterly unbelievable, prompting him to rub them vigorously to ensure what he saw was real.

Reverently, I studied the elder's countenance once more.

The tone was incredibly astonished.

"No... It can't be wrong."

The elder's countenance bore an uncanny resemblance to the ancestral portrait hanging in the living room.

After hearing Li Shixian's story, Li Guangming became even more certain that this was the tale of their very own family's ancient ancestor?

With this thought, Li Guangming, who had initially suspected the show's production team of putting on an act, finally came to believe that the elderly "Ghost King" before him—with his official robe torn through several large holes—was indeed his ancient ancestor.

He dashed out and, with a thud, dropped to his knees before Li Shixian, clutching the official robe now torn through with a large hole, and wept. "Ancestors, forgive me! That day, I hadn't intended to offer you money, but at the last moment, as I thought of our forebears of the Li family, your name flashed across my mind, and the money was inadvertently sent your way."

"In all these years, why didn't you mention your troubles earlier? I've burned so much paper money for my father; you could have asked him to lend you some!"

Yu Jiqing: ...

Quietly, he adjusted the photographer's lens, directing it towards Li Guangming.

Soon, the matters concerning the Li family were resolved with grace and efficiency.

Chu Yuening deftly counted on her fingers, then withdrew her gaze after a thoughtful moment. "It took you a century to reach the Ghost King realm. If it weren't for this incident, you would likely have attained the Ghost Emperor realm and taken up a post in the Underworld within the next fifty years."

When humans break the law, they face punishment. The same applies to spirits.

However, it wasn't her who would mete out the punishment, but the Netherworld.

Li Shixian acknowledged his understanding and, with a respectful bow, said, "Master Chu Da, if the punishment for seeing my wife is to dissipate all my cultivation, I am willing to accept it."

She shook her head. "Your cultivation won't be affected, but taking up the position is out of the question."

With a blemish on their record, how could the Netherworld dare to employ such officials?

Li Shixian gradually relaxed, his expression shifting to one of hesitation as he spoke, "Master... I wanted to inquire about Lady Man, if you would indulge me..."

Chu Yuening counted on her fingers for a moment before saying, "Go on, she awaits you on the other side of the River of Oblivion."

Li Shixian's face lit up with surprise as he paced back and forth, the empty sleeves of his official robe hinting at a glimpse of white bone beneath. He was ecstatic, his joy akin to that of a child. Remembering something, he turned to look at Li Guangming.

"Are you, perchance, the great-great-great-great-grandson of our Li family?"

Li Guangming nodded repeatedly, "Yes, Ancestor, I am he."

"Upon returning, burn more paper money for me. And... my official robe is torn, I can't appear shabby before Mother Man."

Li Guangming instantly comprehended, kneeling on the ground and thumping his chest. "Rest assured, Ancestor. I'll promptly burn paper money and an official robe for you, ensuring you'll look dashing when you meet Grandma Ancestor."

Li Shixian nodded in satisfaction, his figure gradually fading away.

Staring at the now-empty stall, Li Guangming froze for a long moment before pulling himself up from the ground. Witnessing Chu Yuening return to the stall and dip her brush into cinnabar, unlike the audience who assumed it was all part of an act, he genuinely felt the weight of Chu Yuening's prowess.

Li Guangming stepped closer and inquired, "Mighty... Master, what else can be used in the underworld? I wish to burn more for our ancestors and my grandfather."

Chu Yuening lifted her brush, dipping it into cinnabar ink, and said softly, "No need to burn too much, just enough for him to use these two days."

"Why… why would he?" Li Guangming was puzzled. "Our ancestor has been impoverished for centuries, his official robe is even torn—surely he's been scared of poverty? Wouldn't he and our great-grandmother still need money to manage their life in the underworld?"

"Heaven has its own way, Li Shixian has been relying on ghost cultivation and was already on the list of candidates for public service positions, which is why he has managed to avoid reincarnation until now. However, with a blemish on his record and his account being canceled, he must now go through the reincarnation process again." Chu Yuening's expression was indifferent, "He only has two days left."

Two days hence, he and Lady Vine will be reincarnated together. Their bond, it seems, endures. If you wish for their love to remain unyielding like gold in the next life, offer more padlocks of unity to the flames.

"Huh?! Reincarnate in just two days?!" Li Guangming jumped in alarm, also taking care to commit the details of the Love Lock to memory. "Master, excuse me for now—I must hurry and offer paper money to our ancestors!"

Having dealt with Li Shixian.

Chu Yuening summoned Guan Yuanxiang, handing her a talisman as she assessed the condition of Xia Zai. "Most of the malevolent energy surrounding him has been dispelled by Li Shixian's meritorious deeds, yet remnants linger. To prevent any wandering spirits from attempting to possess his vessel, it's advisable to have him wear this calming talisman for a while."