Chapter 38: A Request

Boss Qi was a traveling merchant, leading his caravan across the land year-round. Back when she journeyed from Yin City to Yuan City, it was his caravan that offered her protection; Lingyu had always remembered this kindness.

She turned to her senior brothers and sisters and said, “Boss Qi is an old acquaintance. I’ll catch up with him and return soon.”

Seeing he was a mortal, the four paid no mind and went off to rest.

Boss Qi was overjoyed, inviting her warmly to a private seat upstairs, ordering the waiter to bring the finest pastries and fruits, regardless of the price. Lingyu observed his actions with clear understanding, letting him fuss over her. Crystal grapes costing a tael of silver apiece, melons from the Western Regions at ten taels each—he piled them before her as if money were nothing. This table alone must have cost at least a hundred taels.

“It’s been years—how is Young Master Cheng?” Boss Qi inquired with genuine warmth, his tone carefully measured, a hint of flattery but not excessive.

At this moment, he was inwardly rejoicing that, years ago, he had acted kindly without much thought. Otherwise, as a mere merchant, no matter how wealthy, he could never have forged a connection with a Daoist from Xuan Yuan Temple. If this Young Master Cheng was willing to help, his troubles might finally be resolved...

Lingyu picked up a crystal grape and bit into it. The juice ran sweet and rich. There was a rumor that these grapes grew in spiritual lands of the Western Regions; it seemed somewhat true, as these grapes contained few impurities. At a tael apiece, they were worth the price. She mused to herself that, when she left, she wouldn’t bother with dry rations—she’d simply pack a bag of these fruits.

“Not bad,” Lingyu glanced at him and smiled. “Boss Qi, you have a remarkable memory. I look quite different from years ago—how did you recognize me?”

Boss Qi chuckled lightly, gazing at Lingyu, feeling something was amiss. He’d been a merchant since his teens, immersed in the trade for over twenty years, and his eyes were sharp; if he set his mind to remembering someone, he rarely forgot. Lingyu had indeed changed greatly in the past five years—from twelve to seventeen, the difference between child and adult. Her figure had grown taller, her round face had become oval, and her features had shed their childishness. Boss Qi had recognized her partly by memory, partly by guesswork, taking a chance to approach her, and luckily, he’d guessed right.

But what was off? Boss Qi looked her over again, his gaze settling suddenly on her earlobe, then quickly dropping downward...

“Ah!” Boss Qi jumped in fright, cold sweat breaking out. He hurried to rise and bow low. “So you are Miss Cheng! Please forgive my ignorance and offense…”

Lingyu was eating melon, waving her hand indifferently. “You made a mistake, that’s all. I’m not blaming you.”

Boss Qi cautiously lifted his head, seeing she truly wasn’t concerned, and finally relaxed, but dared not sit again. He stood respectfully to the side, smiling apologetically. “Miss Cheng is magnanimous; I am truly…”

Lingyu ignored him and continued eating melon. After a while, when half the fruit on the table was gone, she finally stopped, slowly took a handkerchief to wipe her hands, and while doing so, asked, “Speak. What is it you wish to ask of me?”

Boss Qi was slightly surprised. “Miss Cheng, you have keen eyes, to know I have a favor to ask.”

Lingyu looked at him, half smiling. “Your vital essence is damaged, and you have gone out of your way to please me. If you’re not here seeking help, could it really just be for old times’ sake?”

Hearing her mention his damaged vitality, Boss Qi broke out in a sweat. Gritting his teeth, he bowed again. “I am willing to offer all my wealth in exchange for Miss Cheng’s help to save my family’s lives!”

Lingyu frowned slightly. “What could be so serious that you’d offer your entire fortune?” She added, “You needn’t tempt me. Whether I help depends on whether it’s convenient. If it isn’t, all your wealth won’t interest me.”

“I wouldn’t dare,” Boss Qi said quickly. “I am but a merchant, possessing nothing precious but money. I meant no offense to Miss Cheng.”

“Very well, speak quickly.” She took a sip of tea and set it down—the taste was bitter after the melon, unpleasantly so.

Boss Qi glanced at Lingyu, feeling somewhat embarrassed. “It’s all due to my foolishness some time ago…”

About two years prior, Boss Qi had brought his caravan to Golan City. Golan bordered the Xiluo Forest and produced medicinal herbs, dyes, timber, and fruits, all of which fetched good profits in Central Lands. Boss Qi ran this route every year, for over a decade now. But two years ago, unlike before, he brought someone back with him.

“Someone? What kind of person?”

Boss Qi’s face reddened, his words faltering. “It was… a woman.” Had Lingyu been the Young Master Cheng he’d assumed, he would have spoken without concern, but learning she was actually Miss Cheng, he felt awkward discussing such matters before an unmarried young lady.

Lingyu nodded. “I suppose she was exceedingly beautiful?”

Boss Qi responded softly, “Yes. I brought her home as a concubine. At first, she seemed no different from any other woman, but after half a year, my entire family began to suffer from dizziness and vertigo…”

Hearing this, Lingyu’s expression grew serious. If only Boss Qi himself suffered, it wouldn’t be unusual; some spirits and ghosts, lacking proper cultivation, rely on absorbing yang essence through intimacy to further their practice. But for the whole family to be affected—it wasn’t likely they had all…

“I sensed something was wrong and finally spent a fortune to hire a Daoist priest, who uncovered the problem…”

“Then why wasn’t it dealt with?” Lingyu said. “Such spirits and ghosts, lacking proper cultivation systems and acting by instinct, shouldn’t be difficult to handle.”

Boss Qi admitted with shame, “I am just a merchant and cannot afford the services of high-level Daoists. The one I found belonged to a minor temple… He failed to exorcise the spirit and was discovered by the demoness instead. Afterwards, I had no further opportunity to seek other priests…”

“I see,” Lingyu nodded. “Where is this demoness now?”

“She’s with my caravan,” Boss Qi replied sadly, wiping his eyes. “My elderly mother, over sixty, could not withstand it and fell ill a year ago. Helpless, I left home and took the demoness with me while traveling, so that only I would suffer from her affliction…”

“You are filial, indeed.” Lingyu considered and asked several more questions, her mind gauging the demoness’s cultivation.

There is the path of immortals in this world, but also spirits and ghosts. Any animal, plant, or creature that absorbs spiritual energy and gains consciousness is classified as a spirit; when a person dies, if their soul and body separate but consciousness remains and they do not return to the cycle of reincarnation, they are called ghosts. There is also a special type—spiritual beings born from heaven and earth’s essence, who gain intelligence by chance, but these beings, blessed by nature, never practice such sinister arts.

Nowadays, the Daoist sects rule the land; spirits and ghosts lack proper traditions, most only having rudimentary cultivation. The demoness Boss Qi spoke of was no weakling—Lingyu estimated her to be at the third or fourth level of Qi Refinement.

“I can help you,” Lingyu said, “but your wealth is of no use to me.”

Boss Qi was overjoyed, prostrating himself. “If Miss Cheng is willing to act, I will do whatever you ask; even if it costs my life, I will not hesitate!”

Lingyu said, “What would I want with your life? Since you’re willing to do anything, we’ll discuss it after the matter is settled.” With that, she rose, stretched, and drew the Kanli Sword from her bag of holding.