When he reached the entrance to the main hall, Jiangli glanced at the sky and said, "Let’s prepare dinner. We’ll go out after we’ve eaten."
Xia Xin looked at the time, it was a little past five in the afternoon, almost six.
It would be getting dark soon after dinner.
So Xia Xin nodded his head and said, "Alright, I bought some groceries back at noon, and haven’t eaten yet, so I’ll go and cook now."
Jiangli left the cooking to Xia Xin and went into the side hall himself.
Xia Xin turned to look at Chu Sanniang’s Rebirth Plaques for a moment before heading into the kitchen, planning to prepare some incense and candles for her later, as a way of offering her dinner too.
Upon returning to the side hall, before Jiangli had even taken a seat, the Soul Nurturing Talisman in his arms suddenly stirred.
"Ancestor, when are you going to let me out!"
The voice of Fu’er promptly filled the side hall.
Only then did Jiangli remember that when they returned from H City, to prevent Fu Shiyan and others from coming into contact with Fu’er and absorbing harmful Yin Energy, he had kept Fu’er inside the Soul Nurturing Talisman.
After coming back, however, he had forgotten to release him.
With this in mind, Jiangli coughed embarrassingly before taking out the Soul Nurturing Talisman.
No sooner had he taken out the Soul Nurturing Talisman than Fu’er couldn’t wait to crawl out of it himself.
As soon as he was out, he took several deep breaths, "For heaven’s sake, I was suffocating! The air outside is so much fresher!"
Jiangli let out a light laugh, ruthlessly puncturing his illusion, "Have you forgotten you’re a ghost now? Can you even tell if the air is fresh or not?"
Ghosts don’t need to breathe.
How could they know if the air is fresh or not?
Fu’er chuckled and said, "I’ve been cooped up in the Soul Nurturing Talisman for too long, I was suffocating! Ancestor, look at you, are you sure you didn’t forget about me!"
Fu’er was quick-witted, immediately biting back.
Jiangli, unflinching, confidently retorted, "So what if I forgot?"
Fu’er’s eyes widened in shock, "!!! What do you mean, so what?!!!"
...Okay then, indeed, he couldn’t really do anything to the ancestor.
Instantly deflated, Fu’er sat down opposite Jiangli and said with grievance, "Ancestor, you can’t do this. You can’t just use me when you need me and forget about me when you don’t! You didn’t treat me back at Yan Mountain!"
He looked at Jiangli with mournful eyes as if Jiangli were some heartless person who’d changed his tune after ’putting on his pants,’ like some dramatic rich man’s scorned wife.
Jiangli got goosebumps, "Alright, alright, what’s with that expression on your old ghost face? Don’t you find it scary?"
He quietly withdrew his aggrieved look, becoming indignant.
He knew all along that the ancestor was hard to persuade.
Any form of coquettish behavior was useless with the ancestor!
Fu’er huffed, "Anyway, I don’t care, I’m not going back into the Soul Nurturing Talisman."
Jiangli agreed readily, "Alright then."
Fu’er couldn’t help but look at Jiangli.
Jiangli had agreed too easily.
Fu’er, feeling uneasy, asked, "Ancestor, you agree just like that to let me stay outside?"
"Hmm," Jiangli nodded, "In a couple days, I’ll most likely be going on a long trip, and Xia Xin will have to come with me to learn and gain some experience. You’ll be perfect for staying behind to watch over the place and receive the Pilgrims."
Upon hearing this, Fu’er immediately bristled, "I knew it! You agreed so quickly because you wanted to use me!"
Jiangli glanced at him, "Not willing?"
Fu’er’s expression changed and his bluster faded, "No, that’s not it..."
"Then isn’t that settled?"
Jiangli was not surprised, "Just stay here obediently, and before I actually leave, I’ll make arrangements. You just relax."
What else could Fu’er say? He grudgingly muttered an agreement.