When Chen Sixi came out again, he was holding a heavy wooden box in his hands. Inside the box was a pair of stone carved small qilins.
Handing the wooden box to Xie Xun, Chen Sixi said, "My dad said ever since our family started selling these things, you're the first person to buy them. Consider it an auspicious sign, they're yours, free of charge."
After saying that, he rubbed the back of his neck and couldn't help but mutter, "Why do I still feel chilly even though it's hot as hell?"
Jiang Xiaoxiao's small stature meant she was sitting in the back basket and couldn't see Chen Sixi. She could only peek through the gaps in the basket.
After peeking, her small hand knocked on the back of Xie Xun's basket where he couldn't see.
Xie Xun guessed Jiang Xiaoxiao had something to say, so he didn't reach for the small qilins. Instead, he told Chen Sixi something suddenly came up and he'd come back for the qilins later.
As Xie Xun walked away, Chen Sixi shouted loudly behind him, "Hey, what did you say your name was?"
"Xie Xun."
Only when he turned into the alley did Xie Xun stop. He put down the basket and took Jiang Xiaoxiao out.
There was no padding in the basket, it was very uncomfortable.
Now sitting in Xie Xun's broad palm, it was as if there was a soft flesh cushion.
Jiang Xiaoxiao lazily stretched.
Xie Xun looked at her and said, "Just now you said there's something in Chen Sixi's shop, a ghost?"
"Not a ghost," Jiang Xiaoxiao shook her head. "An evil spirit."
Seeing Xie Xun lost in thought, Jiang Xiaoxiao explained, "It's different from the feng shui evil spirits in your room. The one in their shop formed after someone died, it's more dangerous than a regular ghost."
"Chen Sixi is tainted by some of the evil spirit's ominous energy. If it's not dispelled in time, he will undoubtedly die within three days."
Xie Xun was silent.
He recalled Jiang Xiaoxiao saying earlier there was a large cloud of ominous energy hovering over his head.
Jiang Xiaoxiao didn't know what Xie Xun was thinking. She just asked, "Do you want to save Chen Sixi?"
Xie Xun nodded.
Even though they'd only met today, after all he got a pair of qilins from their family for free. Consider it repaying the favor so they don't owe each other anything going forward.
Xie Xun asked, "How do I save him?"
Jiang Xiaoxiao organized her words and explained to Xie Xun that evil spirits have several types.
Some were brutal and vicious people when alive. After death they turn into evil spirits, absorbing the energy of slaughtered creatures to cultivate their demonic powers.
These are rarely seen.
The most common are those who were buried on an inauspicious date.
Like one of the Three Mourning Days - the Chen Day in spring, Wei Day in summer, Xu Day in autumn, and Chou Day in winter.
Burying the dead on those days easily violates the Three Mourning Evil Spirits taboo.
Violations range from family ruin within 100 days for minor cases and three or more family deaths within a year for serious ones.
Jiang Xiaoxiao said, "To dispel it, we first need to figure out what taboo he violated."
"The basket blocked my view earlier so I couldn't see Chen Sixi's face clearly."
"But I guess the latter is more likely."
After saying so much, Jiang Xiaoxiao was out of breath.
If she could use her ritual tools there wouldn't be so much trouble!
Xie Xun also felt it was too troublesome. He only wanted to repay the favor, not get involved with the whole thing.
So he asked Jiang Xiaoxiao again, "Can you draw talismans?"
Jiang Xiaoxiao nodded her little head, "I can."
"Can't we just suppress it with normal talisman paper?"
"In my current state, I can only draw ordinary talismans. And those can only subdue small ghosts," Jiang Xiaoxiao shook her head. "To subdue an evil spirit, it needs a grand seal on it to work. My grand seal is at the Heavenly Master's Mansion, I didn't bring it."
Things like the great Compass Seal for dispelling demons and the Evil Expelling Sword are too cumbersome for her. She didn't even bring a knife when she snuck out, just a vegetable cleaver that was her ritual tool.
"If Chen Sixi can hold out until I recover in two days, it'll be fine."
Jiang Xiaoxiao said, "The talismans I draw during my normal periods can subdue evil spirits without a seal."
She's just too lazy to draw them usually, such a hassle!
She grew up in the Heavenly Master's Mansion ever since she could remember. She doesn't know who her parents are or even who she herself is.
All she knows is that she's gifted in many ways.
Like mastering mystic arts.
She comprehends things instantly, as if she was born to do it.
The aforementioned evil spirit suppressing talismans, even her master and a few senior brothers have to put on the grand seal to make them work.
Jiang Xiaoxiao doesn't need the seal.
In the entire Heavenly Master's Mansion, only her and the Ancestor Grand Heavenly Master can reach this level.
Another example is her appetite.
She eats as much as two senior brothers combined.
The Third Senior Brother often jokes if she keeps eating like this she'd become a fat Daoist nun.
But Jiang Xiaoxiao still hasn't gained weight.
She's put the Third Senior Brother on her unreliable list.
And also laziness.
Too lazy to talk, too lazy to entertain people, best to just space out alone quietly.
But she still has to marry someone to break her curse. It doesn't seem she can be lazy about that.
Hopefully the marriage process isn't too cumbersome, the simpler the better.
Mm...said too much, so sleepy.
Xie Xun watched as the little thing in his palm closed her eyes and started dozing off again. He gently put her back in the basket, unconsciously much more gentle than before.
Chen Sixi had felt chilly on his back these days, especially today.
He originally wanted to bask in the sun outside, but his dad was out for a bit and left him to watch the shop alone.
Chen Sixi could only pull up a stool to sit legs crossed at the door, getting some sun while watching the shop. When people passed by he'd try to peddle them coffins.
Naturally he'd get white-eyed stares and curses in return.
But Chen Sixi was already used to it and still had a cheerful look on his face.
That was how Xie Xun saw him when he came back.
"Oh? Xie...Xun?" Chen Sixi suddenly remembered the name this guy gave earlier. "You're from Stone Mill Village?"
Chen Sixi lived in town so he'd heard of Xie Xun's infamous reputation for bad luck.
Xie Xun looked at him and got straight to the point, "It's best if you don't go out or come back to the coffin shop for the next three days."
Chen Sixi was baffled. "Say what?"
Xie Xun's expression was calm. "You gave me a pair of qilins, I gave you a piece of good advice in return. We're even now."
"Wait wait..." Chen Sixi was confused. "Why can't I go out?"
"For your own good."
At first Chen Sixi was stunned, then he laughed while clutching his stomach, "What joke is this? You think you're some fortune telling grandmaster?"
Chen Sixi didn't believe him. And Xie Xun didn't plan to keep explaining forcefully.
He didn't want the qilins either, he'd find a proper shop to buy another pair.
"Oh, you don't want the qilins anymore?"
After laughing, Chen Sixi brought out the earlier wooden box to give to Xie Xun again.
"My dad said it was for you so they're yours. Us Chens keep our word!"
"Thank you." Xie Xun took the wooden box and deeply looked at Chen Sixi once more.
"Alright alright." Chen Sixi shooed him away.
"You're an unlucky ghost yourself yet try to tell my fortune. Only ghosts would believe you."
"Also, my family runs a coffin shop. What do I have to fear!"
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