Chapter 31

Chapter 31: Grave Visiting Day

　　It’s been a month since Qingming, and during the plum rain season, both temple fairs and funeral goods stores are doing slow business.

　　An antique-looking shop is located at the Mountain Base of the temple fair. As soon as you get out of the car, you can smell the burning sandalwood.

　　Yuan Xiaoling looked up at the sign, which read – Liu Laoxian Paper Goods Store.

　　An old man with a white beard sat at the entrance, looking at them with an enigmatic expression, exuding a bit of a mystical air.

　　”Dear customers, what would you like to buy?”

　　”Items for ancestral worship,” said Zhang Shengkang.

　　At this moment, Zhang Shanshan pushed her way in and asked, “I saw online reviews saying that your incense allows people to see those they worship, as if they were still alive. Is that true?”

　　Liu Laoxian stroked his white beard, mysteriously saying, “Why don’t you experience it yourself, guests.”

　　As he spoke, he grabbed an incense stick from the counter behind him.

　　Yuan Xiaoling thought to herself that this guy really had some skills, always having incense ready for free trials.

　　Zhang Shanshan quickly stepped aside, “Not me, it’s her. The ones being worshipped aren’t my parents.”

　　Finally, she got her chance to subtly attack Bai Ling without much room for retaliation.

　　But Bai Ling didn’t care at all. After all, she herself had already died once; how could she care about jokes related to life and death?

　　”Burn the incense and you’ll see your deceased loved ones?” She looked at the incense with interest, “Very special design.”

　　Yuan Xiaoling rolled her eyes, thinking there was nothing mysterious about it. Burning incense to see the dead? There were only two possibilities. Either the incense contained something unusual, and inhaling it was like getting high. Or it had nothing to do with the incense, but rather the old man himself had the ability to create illusions.

　　Liu Laoxian maintained a kind demeanor as he held the incense and walked towards Bai Ling, “Young lady, let me ask a few questions. What were the family members you wish to worship like? They…”

　　He locked eyes with Bai Ling’s crimson gaze and suddenly froze mid-sentence, unable to continue.

　　A few seconds later, Liu Laoxian snapped out of it, his white beard trembling slightly.

　　”I’m here to buy something I need,” Bai Ling said, “Something normal.”

　　”Alright, alright.” Liu Laoxian wiped his sweat and went inside to look for items.

　　Zhang Shanshan looked confused and couldn’t help but ask, “Did you see any deceased relatives just now?”

　　”No, but,” Bai Ling smirked, “I saw relatives who are about to die.”

　　”That’s such bad luck.”

　　Only Yuan Xiaoling understood the deeper meaning of her words.

　　Soon after, Liu Laoxian came out with various items, including the basic heavenly bank notes, paper effigies, and even a paper house.

　　”There are many more kinds inside,” he asked Bai Ling, “Would you like to choose more?”

　　Bai Ling gestured towards Zhang Shengkang, “Uncle Zhang, you choose.”

　　After all, it’s for your use, based on personal preference.

　　”Yes, that’s right,” Zhang Shanshan confidently added, “My dad paid for it, let him choose.”

　　Zhang Shengkang hesitated, thinking it made sense, and went inside, “In that case, I’ll choose for my brother and sister-in-law.”

　　He went in, and Zhang Shanshan followed to join in the fun, leaving only Yuan Xiaoling and Bai Ling outside.

　　”What’s going on?” Yuan Xiaoling whispered.

　　”Nothing, can’t you guess?” Bai Ling replied coolly, “Mental-type, illusion, Third-tier beginner.”

　　”Third-tier? That’s actually pretty skilled.”

　　After a while, Zhang Shengkang came out carrying a packed bag, with Zhang Shanshan trailing behind, muttering under her breath:

　　”Just for two people’s incense, why buy so much?”

　　”Not just two… never mind, let’s go.”

　　Don’t stay too long in a funeral goods store, it’s unlucky.

　　When leaving, Liu Laoxian greeted Bai Ling. Bai Ling merely gave a nod with her eyes before turning and walking away.

　　Yuan Xiaoling waved goodbye to Liu Laoxian on her behalf, “Grandfather, see you.”

　　It was almost noon, so they hurried back to have lunch.

　　The car carried the four of them away, and Liu Laoxian stood at the entrance for a while longer, wiping cold sweat.

　　Nothing significant happened earlier, just pure Spiritual Power suppression, clearly felt within a few short seconds. The gap was quite large.

　　”So, the rumors are true.”

　　Among the high-level Spiritual Energy Manipulators in Tianhai City, there was a recent rumor about a very high-tier Mental-type Spiritual Energy Manipulator in the city. Cold personality, bad temper, difficult to deal with. But luckily, she had a super cute big-chested wife who was polite and easygoing.

　　After standing for a while, Liu Laoxian took the sign back inside and prepared to rest for a few days.

　　”Tianhai City, things are about to change.”

　　After all, buying funeral supplies serves only one purpose.

　　…

　　Back home, everyone was relatively quiet. Zhang Shengkang tried to discuss the schedule for the next day, but seeing Bai Ling had no objections, he stopped talking.

　　Zhang Shanshan was also sent back to her Room early to avoid ruining things with too much chatter.

　　Yuan Xiaoling did the same, finishing her meal and retreating to play on her Mobile Phone. Bored, she played mobile games or chatted with her roommate.

　　With such an important event tomorrow, maybe we don’t need mugwort tonight?

　　Indeed, there was none. When Bai Ling returned to sleep, her face was as cold as ever, and Yuan Xiaoling didn’t dare to speak.

　　Let’s just sleep. Finally, Ningning can sleep dry.

　　Zzzz

　　Splash splash splash splash splash—!

　　Sunday morning, it was already past eight, yet the sky was still dark, covered in thick clouds, with heavy rain pouring down since early morning.

　　Zhang Shengkang looked out the window at the dark clouds, his face matching the gloom.

　　Didn’t the niece say the weather forecast predicted good weather today? How come…

　　”Uncle Zhang, it’s raining heavily outside,” Bai Ling softly said from somewhere behind him, “Should we postpone the arrangements?”

　　”No, unnecessary.” Zhang Shengkang instinctively refused.

　　The time was set with Mr. Gray, and perhaps the people were already in position; how could it be postponed?

　　Realizing he sounded strange, he added, “Burials, grave visiting, and ancestor worship are all very particular about auspicious timing. Once the time is set, it shouldn’t be changed arbitrarily, otherwise, it would bring great misfortune.”

　　”Oh,” Bai Ling looked enlightened, “So that’s how it is, shall we go then?”

　　”Yes yes yes, let’s go.”

　　Zhang Shengkang didn’t indulge his daughter’s whims today, locking her in her Room and driving Bai Ling and Yuan Xiaoling to the cemetery alone.

　　”The rain is too heavy today, so I didn’t let Shanshan come along,” he explained specially, “We’ll go early and come back early.”

　　”Alright.” Bai Ling gave an eerie smile.

　　In the passenger seat, Zhang Shanshan sat there with a vacant expression, like someone sleepwalking.

　　But in Zhang Shengkang’s vision, the passenger seat was completely empty.

　　Controlling the vision of ordinary people was something Bai Ling had mastered seven years ago.