Chapter Sixty-Seven: Jiacheng (1)

After Jun Lu’an departed, Gu Zhiheng finally breathed a sigh of relief.

That fellow was even more difficult to handle than Jing Hua, truly leaving him mentally and physically exhausted. He hoped that, upon returning, Jun Lu’an wouldn’t bring trouble to his family; his own household couldn’t withstand such chaos.

“Hey, sis, how are things going on your end? The next mission target is the Red-Tailed Fox.” As soon as he connected with Chu Xingran’s call, Gu Zhiheng hurriedly asked about their progress.

Most of the spirits before the Red-Tailed Fox had already been dealt with, so it was about time for them to head to Jiacheng. The Red-Tailed Fox was located in the Liujian area of Jiacheng, only appearing in large numbers to forage during the height of summer each year.

“We’re almost done. Once we’ve preserved everything, we’ll bring it over and draw all the talismans we can first,” Chu Xingran said hurriedly before hanging up.

Figuring they must be busy, Gu Zhiheng didn’t disturb them further. Instead, he turned and headed to the supermarket, buying some daily necessities. Once prepared, he set off for Jiacheng.

Jiacheng was far from his current location, the journey taking nearly three days without much rest. If he stopped along the way, it would probably take around four days.

Situated on the northwestern frontier, Jiacheng was battered by winds and sand, its climate much drier than elsewhere. Gu Zhiheng couldn’t help but think his ancestors must have had some peculiar fate, always attracting spirits from the northwest, forcing him to roam about tasting the bitterness of sandstorms.

This trip to Jiacheng required passing through many places, with much of the route being old, dirt roads, making driving inconvenient. Even if he flew there, it would still take a day of transfers to finally reach his destination. So he preferred to drive, at least sparing himself the trouble of changing vehicles multiple times.

Though the drive meant traversing many mountain roads, he didn’t mind; mainly, he disliked interacting with others.

Shaking and swaying along the road to Jiacheng, Gu Zhiheng felt his skin growing drier, almost as if it would soon peel.

...

“Boss, a bowl of noodles, make it a large one!” Having eaten little along the way, Gu Zhiheng, upon arriving in Jiacheng, immediately sought out a place to eat.

He parked his car by the roadside and, spotting a noodle shop nearby, entered.

“Right away! Large noodles for table two!” The proprietor nodded in agreement and shouted toward the kitchen.

Gu Zhiheng settled in, checked his phone, and noted that Jiacheng’s summer wasn’t particularly hot—daytime temperatures hovered around twenty-six degrees. The summers here were comfortable, only the wind and sand were troublesome, easily stinging the eyes.

While the noodles were still cooking, the boss brought him a bowl of soup and placed some garlic on the table. Gu Zhiheng wasn’t fond of garlic, finding its flavor too strong.

The soup looked good; he sipped it lightly and sat quietly, waiting for his noodles. Since the noodles were hand-pulled, they took a bit longer, but the texture would be much better.

Gu Zhiheng wasn’t in a hurry, so he waited patiently, occasionally browsing his phone.

After about ten minutes, the noodles finally arrived. He put down his phone and began to eat.

Calculating the timing, Chu Xingran and the others wouldn’t arrive in Jiacheng until the day after tomorrow, leaving him time to explore on his own. When they arrived, the four of them would set out together to hunt the Red-Tailed Fox.

Though they were early, they would use the time to gather information, scout the terrain and routes, and ensure everything was flawless when the real action began. It was a way to save time later, so they often acted ahead.

“Boss, are there any interesting places nearby? I just got to Jiacheng today!” Finding places on his own was troublesome; it was more reliable to ask locals.

The boss was enthusiastic, sitting across from Gu Zhiheng and chatting spiritedly. Gu Zhiheng listened patiently, actually picking up quite a few useful tips from the conversation.

“Thank you, boss! The noodles were delicious, and your advice was valuable!” Gu Zhiheng thanked him, paid, and prepared to leave.

But as he looked up, he noticed the boss’s wife’s complexion was off. He casually drew a talisman from his pocket.

He hadn’t intended to intervene, but the boss had helped him, after all.

“An obsession too deep is never a good thing. Let go when it’s time,” he said unexpectedly to the boss’s wife, handing her the talisman.

The boss’s wife understood what Gu Zhiheng meant and took the talisman, feeling its warmth in her palm.

Yes, it was time to let go of her obsessions—when the moment came, she should release her grip.

She had held on for so long; it was time to forgive herself and the man who held her so dearly.

Watching Gu Zhiheng leave, the boss’s wife smiled, finally at peace.

“Darling, I’m tired. Let’s close the shop and go traveling!” She had spent her whole life in this little store.

It was time to lay the past to rest and accompany him for the final stretch.

The children had been gone for decades, she was old now—it was time to let go.

Her obsession was the longing for her children, but it was also a shackle and a prison for herself.

She had trapped herself, unable to step out of the little shop for decades. Now, it was time to move on.

“Alright, after a lifetime together, let’s see the world outside.” The boss, his hair white as snow, looked at his wife with a sparkle in his eyes.

It was hope, and so much love and unwillingness to part.

He was truly grateful to the young man who had just eaten noodles; from the moment he entered, he knew this was no ordinary youth.

Sure enough, with just a few words, his wife finally saw things clearly.

Across the street, Gu Zhiheng watched. The ghostly aura in the little shop faded, threads of white light swirling gently.

Love, when in excess, can become a burden, a cage.

“Young man, good deeds bring fortune to the next life!” An elderly beggar by the roadside looked at Gu Zhiheng, hoping for a bit of food to survive.

“Not everyone disbelieves in divination. Before others believe, you must believe in yourself. Go have a good meal and think it over.” He took five hundred yuan from his wallet and placed it in the beggar’s bowl.

He gave the beggar a meaningful look and turned to leave.

Is this what society has come to—diviners resorting to begging?

Clearly, they could rely on their skills and hands to do other work; supporting themselves shouldn’t be difficult. Why had they chosen the path of begging?

He couldn’t understand, nor did he dwell on it. His mission was not merely to rescue diviners lost in the mundane world.

He had so much to do, time wouldn’t allow him to handle everything.

Sometimes, pity can also be a mistake. Focusing on the task at hand was enough.

As long as the final outcome was what everyone hoped for, he would have performed the greatest act of kindness, true to his original intent.