Chapter 225 - 221: Peace in the Mortal World

On Wangjiang Mountain Peak, Duan Xinghun replied to the Xie Family Ancestor, "Immortal Venerable Xie, this junior also has something to say, if you would lend an ear. In life, regardless of whether one is human or immortal, if you desire too much, you are likely to end up with nothing."

The Xie Family Ancestor snorted. "Junior, you should be saving those words for your esteemed master!"

Duan Xinghun’s expression remained unchanged. He simply shifted the Duster in his hand.

He lowered his gaze. The clamor from down the mountain seemed to be fading away.

Duan Xinghun said coolly, "My master serves the nation and its people. His thoughts and motives are far beyond the comprehension of ordinary people, and he does not seek their understanding."

The Xie Family Ancestor chuckled dryly. "My dear nephew, you are truly naive! Spoken like a true youth!"

After saying this, he took a single step, instantly crossing into the Void and disappearing without a trace.

Song Ciwan, lacking a celestial eye, was unaware of the conversation on the mountain. She simply followed the guidance of the Ancestral Dragon Coins, walking for some time toward the southwest after descending the mountain.

The world at the foot of the mountain seemed to have returned to its usual peace. The cool light of the full moon spilled from the sky, bathing the streets and neighborhoods of Pinglan City in a tranquil, clear glow.

Soldiers from the City Patrol Department patrolled in scattered groups, occasionally murmuring amongst themselves. "It’s gotta be our City God. The moment he takes action, all those strange monsters are finished!"

"You’re telling me! It’s like my dad always says, a job like ours means risking our necks every day, but as long as we’re in the city, there’s no need to be too afraid. We have the City God!"

"Tomorrow’s the fifteenth. My whole family is going to the City God Temple to burn incense."

"Pfft, only on the fifteenth? You should go on the first *and* the fifteenth! I’ve gotta tell my wife to prepare some silver coins so I can get more Spirit Talismans from the City God Temple to take home!"

"Don’t we get issued Spirit Talismans? Why do you still need your wife to go to the City God Temple for them?"

"The ones they issue are only enough for me, and maybe not even that! When it comes to Spirit Talismans, who could ever have too many? With the way things are now, it gets scarier every year. It’s best to stock up on things like Exorcism Talismans and House Protection Talismans at home. The more life-saving items you have, the better. It’s the only way to feel at ease."

"That’s true. Nothing beats having your own..."

...

Most of the City Patrol Department’s soldiers were Low Level Martial Artists. Some had inherited their positions, while others came from common backgrounds. But regardless of their origins, the majority of these ordinary soldiers had the unmistakable air of the common people.

As Song Ciwan walked idly through the streets and neighborhoods, listening to these conversations, she finally felt a true sense of having returned to the Mortal World.

She saw that the soldiers held a Compass in their hands, constantly scanning for something as they walked. When a Compass needle would suddenly spin wildly, someone would shout, "Here! Quick, come here!"

The soldiers cautiously surrounded the spot. One of them opened a box covered in runic script, picked up a small, round bead from the ground, and placed it inside. Only then did Song Ciwan realize what it was: a Yin Soul Pearl.

After the strange miasma that had filled the city dissipated, some of it had left behind Yin Soul Pearls, while other parts had left a variety of other bizarre artifacts. The soldiers of the City Patrol Department were now in the process of collecting these items.

Occasionally, some households were still disturbed by the residual aura of these strange phenomena. In those cases, the City Patrol Department soldiers would knock on the door, enter, and use special tools to sweep the strange energy away.

Of course, the City Patrol Department had limited manpower. They couldn’t possibly cover the entire city or eliminate every single problem within its walls.

Various incidents would inevitably still arise in some households—these were the aftereffects of the Night Parade of Hundred Demons.

When Song Ciwan happened to encounter such situations, she would secretly intervene, helping those in peril and doing a good deed whenever the opportunity arose.

Walking and stopping in this manner, she encountered many forked paths, and several times Song Ciwan took out her Ancestral Dragon Coins to perform a Divination.

After repeating this process several times, she gradually strayed farther from the main roads the City Patrol Department soldiers were patrolling. Suddenly, the path ahead narrowed, and Song Ciwan walked into a dark alley.

In that instant, she felt a premonition. She raised her eyes, and sure enough, she saw a small figure sitting against the wall in the depths of the dark alley.

The figure was curled up, arms wrapped tightly around its knees, blending in so perfectly it was almost one with the night.

If not for Song Ciwan’s keen Spiritual Sense and her deliberate probing, she would never have been able to discover him.

Under the cover of darkness, Song Ciwan used her Spiritual Sense to "see" the small, curled-up figure pressing its ear against a wall.

From within the walls came the voices of a family. A mother was saying, "Great and merciful Lord City God, please don’t take offense. This child is witless with hunger and doesn’t know any better. He didn’t mean to take the offerings, he truly doesn’t understand..."

"This humble devotee will have him apologize to you now. Please, I beg you not to blame him!"

This was followed by the babbling of a child—a very young one indeed, who had not yet even learned to speak.

The mother, holding the child, kowtowed several times in a row—

Song Ciwan extended her Spiritual Sense, only to "see" three wisps of Light Smoke suddenly curl upwards from before the family’s enshrined City God statue.

The mother cried out in delight, "This is wonderful! The City God is so merciful, he’s forgiven the child!"

A moment later, the child’s father walked over, carrying a plate of fruit.

The man carefully placed the fruit on the offering table, then knelt beside his wife and said, "The City God is magnanimous. We should go to the temple tomorrow to burn incense and give our thanks."

His wife quickly said, "Of course. Do you even have to tell me? I’m even planning to slaughter a chicken to take with us tomorrow!"

The man agreed, saying, "We should bring a chicken. We’re so lucky to have the City God, living here in the city. Otherwise, with all sorts of strange things happening all the time, how could we possibly live our lives...?"

His words, however, elicited only silence and worry from his wife.

After a moment, his wife said in a low voice, "My dear, I’m worried about my mother and father in the village."

The man comforted her, saying, "The village has an Ancestral Hall and an Earth God temple, don’t worry. If you’re still anxious, tomorrow we can take out some more silver, get a few more Spirit Talismans from the City God Temple, and send them back to your mother and father."

Holding their child, the wife’s worry turned to joy. She quickly said with gratitude, "My dear, you’re so good to me."

The man gave a simple, honest smile. "No, you’re the one who’s good."

The couple exchanged a few more words, each praising the other with mutual respect and affection.

A short while later, they bowed to the City God once more before taking the child to their bedroom, putting out the light, and going to sleep.

The voices vanished, and the sound of calm breathing gradually took their place. The entire world seemed to settle into a profound peace.

This tranquility was both real and rare, and it caused one’s heart to grow calm and serene without them even realizing it.

Song Ciwan reverted to her true form and approached the small figure sitting against the wall, calling out softly, "Xiaolang."

Yes, the small figure sitting in the corner was none other than Gao Xiaolang. Sensing Song Ciwan’s approach, he instantly raised his head. With a look of both melancholy and pleasant surprise, he said, "Sister Song, you really found me."

Song Ciwan noticed his aura was very weak and said with immediate concern, "Xiaolang, you don’t seem to be doing well."

But a smile was on Gao Xiaolang’s face as he said gently, "No, I’m fine. Sister Song, I don’t think I’ve ever felt this good."