"Is there any message in the brocade pouch?"
Zhu Huai’an quietly put away the silk cloth, a hint of almost undetectable tremor in his calm tone.
"Uncle, before heading to the Northern Territory, I want to visit Linhe to see some old friends..."
On this day, the streets of Underground Street suddenly featured a character with a celebratory demeanor.
The person wore a big-sleeved maroon silk robe, a small melon skin cap on his head, and carried a birdcage in his hand. But instead of a bird, the cage held a completely white rooster without a single speck of other color.
"Second Master, take it easy today, don’t scare that little cat silly!"
The person called Second Master held the little white rooster in one hand, and two ’lion heads’ in the other, spitting as he spoke:
"Nonsense! Would your Second Master do something like that?"
"But speaking of which, in this circle of tricksters, your Second Master is a well-known figure. These little cats, dogs, and mice all straighten themselves up when they see me, knowing who the real master of cat and dog teasing is!"
"Isn’t that right, Big White?" This was what Second Master Feng said, whistling to the little white rooster in the cage, though ’Big White’ came out as ’Big Uncle’ because of his accent.
The middle-aged scholar standing next to him in a long-sleeved robe held a folding fan painted with a white snake spitting pearls, exuding a gentle and refined temperament.
"Mr. Liu, which street is this? Why does it feel so unfamiliar? I’ve never been to this area before."
Mr. Liu wasn’t actually surnamed Liu; his real name was Ji Ruinian. But people in the underworld had gotten used to calling him Mr. Liu, and it stuck.
"This place has a story. Second Master doesn’t know?"
"What story? Is it bigger than your Second Master’s background?"
Ji Ruinian gently waved his folding fan and joked, "Not really, but this street is famous for its funeral-related businesses—custom-made shrouds, corpse makeup, coffins, funeral arrangements, and even relocation to a new Yin Residence. It’s one-stop for all funeral services."
"So it’s just a white event place? I can’t compete with that reputation, it’s so inauspicious!"
As they chatted and joked, they arrived in front of a funeral shop.
At the door, a plain-looking old man was sunbathing.
"I’d like to ask you something. Do you know of an Immortal Hall for the Cat Immortal on this street?"
Hu Baosong asked in confusion, "What hall?"
Second Master Feng replied puzzledly, "No way, I saw it on Big White the other day, it was on this street. Did we take a wrong turn?"
Ji Ruinian sighed, "As the saying goes, roosters have poor vision. It’s a wonder you saw anything clearly in the first place."
"Nonsense! Your Second Master has never made a mistake in his life! This old man must be too old and confused, not me!"
They left the funeral shop and continued along the street lined with paper mache shops and other funeral businesses, finally stopping in front of a shop with a forensic doctor’s sign.
"We finally found it. This place, this pitch-black door...hey, something feels off. Mr. Liu, do you sense it?"
"There’s Yin energy." Ji Ruinian folded his fan, his gaze flickering.
"I know there’s Yin energy. In our line of work, who doesn’t carry a bit of Yin energy? I mean this shop seems off—look at Big White!"
Ji Ruinian looked over to see Second Master Feng’s little white rooster flapping its wings frantically, trying to escape the cage, clearly not wanting to enter the shop.
"This is the first time I’ve seen Big White so scared. It wasn’t last time we came..."
"We’re already here, let’s go in and have a look. Jin Sect isn’t like the Capital City; there aren’t many powerful Immortals here, let alone a Cat Immortal. Don’t forget you’re a master at feeding cats and walking dogs, what’s there to fear?"
As they continued to talk, a white figure suddenly flashed across the entrance of the forensic shop.
"Did something just float by?"
Second Master Feng paused with his walnut-prying hand, and Ji Ruinian asked in surprise, "Second Master, even without Big White, you can see ghosts?"
"Of course, I’m not blind!" Second Master Feng pointed to his eyes and said, "I once spent a fortune to have a master consecrate them. They’re now postnatal Yin-Yang Eyes. I can see through ghosts and even spirits disguised as humans!"
"They say money can make ghosts work, but I never thought it could also grant someone supernatural sight." Ji Ruinian sighed, "Are you sure the being inside is a Cat Immortal and not a disciple of the Tragic Immortal?"
"You better be sure, I don’t want you dragging me to the wrong gathering. If we end up in the wrong place, I’m not coming with you next time!"
"I’m sure. No mistake. Come with me, and you’ll see for yourself."
While they were chattering outside, Xu Qing inside the shop had already noticed the commotion at the door.
Even the rough maid, the embroidery girl, showed some sense and came over to inform him at the counter.
As for keeping a female ghost around, Xu Qing wasn’t worried at all.
He had secured his position as an envoy, so having a Tragic Immortal nearby was quite normal, right?
One female ghost or even another wouldn’t be a problem, he felt he could handle it.
Xu Qing put away his writing materials and talismans, straightened his clothes, and went out to greet the guests.
Second Master Feng’s loud voice was clear, and even though Ji Ruinian spoke softly, Xu Qing’s sharp ears picked it up.