Just like the constables in the Government Office, taking on the tasks of capturing criminals and maintaining public order, yet collusion between officials and bandits is a common occurrence.
It has always been like this with the government, and even the myriad celestial beings and gods in the Heavenly Palace aren't exempt.
If one were to judge status by rank, that would be one thing, but to judge conduct by status...
That would be far from the path of Tao, and even further from the concept of living beings!
Soon, Lu Xiu returned with news of the Qishan Clan.
The Demon Pill Temple Master said nothing more but that a fortune was given to the Qishan Clan, which held no harm for them.
Xu Qing thought for a moment, then temporarily put the matter aside.
Although he couldn't figure out the whereabouts of the Qishan Clan, through the Blood Lake Realm he sensed they were not harmed.
For the Qishan Clan, guilty of a grave crime that would eventually be punished by heavenly law, Xu Qing couldn't think of a proper solution at the moment.
The authority of dozens of famous mountains and great rivers, from the establishment of the upper world's order to now, no one has dared to even think of committing this crime!
To privately refine the authority of mountains, rivers, and great rivers is a graver crime than establishing a private altar without Imperial Court permission.
Enjoying incense offerings in wild shrines is already a capital offense, and if it were back when Heaven's Road was open, it would have warranted heavenly punishment, obliterating body and soul!
It's just that the Qishan Clan found a loophole, and only after the closure of Heaven-Reaching Road did they start refining the authority of famous mountains and great rivers, otherwise, they would have been taken to the Demon-slaying Platform and slain a hundred times just after refining the first Qishan!
The Demon Pill Cave Master, being a deity, cannot possibly be unaware of the severity of the Qishan Clan's crimes.
Since he claims to have given the Qishan Clan a fortune, it probably relates to a way to resolve their crimes.
Xu Qing pondered for a long time but couldn't think of a solution.
"The owner of the Demon Pill Temple is a well-known righteous deity, surely they'll have a suitable solution, so why should I worry?"
The Great Sea God has abundant experience with transgressions, and based on the principle of trusting professionals, Xu Qing ceased to worry further.
Yet, why did he feel unease deep in his heart?
After pondering for a moment, Xu Qing thought it was because, during the time away from the Jin Sect, fewer corpses needed funerals, resulting in his restlessness.
As long as he performed more rites for the deceased, his heart might find peace.
...
Jinmen Prefecture, Linjiang City.
After two years, the rarity of an eighty-something Shopkeeper Xu returned to this beloved land.
On the day of his return, every Funeral House in Jin Sect, including all the funeral-related businesses on Underground Street, was covered with fifty-year anniversary celebration signs, announcing a 50% discount on all funeral goods.
Moreover, it's a limited-time promotional event, so if a family wants to hold a funeral, it's best to do so within this half-month, for once the event is over, getting such discounts will be unlikely!
Shopkeeper Xu's posters were everywhere, clearly offering unprecedented discounts, yet mostly drawing negative reviews.
The people of Jinmen Prefecture knew long ago that Mr. Xu of Underground Street was incorrigible, but why offer discounts only during such a festive time?
Xu Qing had something to say about this. May 5th, what festival is that? It's the Rice Dumpling Festival!
As long as there's a word of sacrifice, isn't that his domain!
The old and young in Jinmen dared not express their anger, who could criticize a man who helped bury the founding Emperor?
Despite their internal dissatisfaction, on the day of the Rice Dumpling Festival, everyone lined up in front of the Xu family's shops to buy Incense Candle paper boats.
After all, Shopkeeper Xu's Incense Candle paper goods truly were cheap!
In just two or three days since Xu Qing's return, the entire funeral industry in Jinmen Prefecture was bustling once more.
Regardless of whether there were corpses or not, the reputation of the Xu family's shops remained as illustrious as ever.
During this time, upon hearing of Xu Qing's return, the Wu family brothers specially traveled from the Capital City to catch up with him.
After many years of not seeing each other, all three had become grey-haired, toothless old men.
"Why, at your age, aren't you retiring in the Capital, but coming here to find me?"
Wu Wencai squinted his cloudy eyes, straining his neck to move closer to Xu Qing, as if trying to see him clearly.
"Precisely because we're old, my brother and I rushed to find you, you old thing, why are you blaming us?"
Wu Wencai spoke bluntly.
Wu Zhiyuan, whose teeth were mostly gone, mumbled, "Wencai is right. These years, who knows what you've been busy with? You didn't come to visit us or reminisce. If we didn't come to find Brother Xu, we'd truly miss the chance when we're unable to walk or go out!"
Xu Qing was momentarily stunned, then smiled and said, "It's my fault. I apologize to both of you, my brothers. Next time, I promise to visit the Capital City to meet with you."
In life, it's rare to have someone remember you. He didn't have a lifespan limit, yet he overlooked the fleeting nature of a mortal's life.
Xu Qing was suddenly awakened. The two or three years' gap after sending Shiyue to become a disciple felt like an instant to him.
But for the Wu Family brothers, it really was the length of the rest of their lives.
"I heard that Brother Xu encountered a good match in his early years and now has a pair of good twin grandchildren?"
Seeing Xu Qing nod, Wu Wencai's eyes lit up and he said, "My grandchildren have also reached a suitable age for marriage. Why don't we establish a marital connection between our two families, so that we could become even closer?"
Xu Qing recalled Shiyue, who hadn't grown in decades, and the Golden Carp Child, who hadn't changed in hundreds of years, making it impossible for them to provide offspring to form this marriage connection.
On the side, Wu Zhiyuan joined in the jesting, seeming eager for both families to share in the joy.
"I can't make the decision for this matter!"
Xu Qing said helplessly, "I have always been lenient with the younger generation. Whether they want to marry or have children is entirely up to their own feelings of mutual affection."
"Besides, most of my grandchildren are already married, and those who aren't are still of a young age, not yet suitable for marriage."
The Wu Family brothers felt a bit regretful in their hearts, but they didn't insist.
In the next four or five days, the Wu Family brothers visited Xu Qing daily to chat and reminisce about old times, discussing everything from national affairs to street gossip, from outer-world myths to countryside anecdotes, as if they could talk endlessly.
On the last day, prompted by their grandchildren to return as soon as possible, the Wu Family brothers finally stopped their chatter.
Wu Wencai glanced at Xu Qing and then threw an inquiring look at Wu Zhiyuan.
The latter chuckled softly and said directly, "Brother Xu, to be honest, when Wencai and I came from the Capital City, we were instructed by His Majesty. It seemed like His Majesty wanted us to invite you to come out and become the current Crown Prince's teacher."
"However, Wencai and I know Brother Xu's ambitions do not lie here, so we did not mention it. We are telling you now because we didn't want to keep it from you, and Brother Xu, you don't need to take it to heart."
Xu Qing could only smile wryly.
He didn't even need to think hard to guess that it must have been something Zhu Huai'an said to the current Emperor before his death, which made the Emperor think of him, an old man who was ostensibly nearing the end of his days.
Mid-May, outside Jinmen Prefecture.
Xu Qing watched the Wu Family brothers' carriage leave the city gate before he turned back.
He understood clearly in his heart that the next time they would meet would only be in the scenes of their past life flashing before them...
Returning to Linjiang City, Xu Qing seemed to have returned to the state when he first took over the Funeral Shop.
During the day, he managed the shop, and in his spare time, he strolled around.
At this time, the great-grandson of Broker Li Si, Li Xiangui, had already passed away with his grandfather, and the one taking over the brokerage was Li Xiangui's son, Li Mantang.
Since the time of Li Si, the Li Family had hereditary reproductive diseases. For each generation to have children, they had to seek a prescription and treatment from the mothers at Bao Sheng Temple.
Now, Li Xiangui named his son Li Mantang, meaning 'a houseful of children and grandchildren.'
However, despite the good wish, by Li Mantang's generation, it was still only a single child being passed down.
Xu Qing specifically looked into Li Mantang's family situation and found that the family not only suffered from illnesses but also had defects in their fate.
Leaving the brokerage, Xu Qing stopped by North Gate Alley on Flower and Bird Street to visit his god-grandson.
Now, Feng Xiaosheng's only son, Feng Zhengnan, was already seven or eight years old, and his appearance was becoming more and more peculiar.
Such appearance would at least be enough to replace a Gate God, deterring some petty ghosts and villains throughout Dayan!
"Good grandson, see what granduncle brought you?"
Xu Qing took out a carefully carved, scaled-down wooden Ghost-slaying Treasure Sword and gave it to Feng Zhengnan.
The little fellow, who had a runny nose, saw the Ghost-slaying Treasure Sword and treated it like a treasure.
"What a majestic sword! Thank you, granduncle, you're the best to me!"
"Haha, don't be polite with your granduncle. We, grandfather and grandson, are so close!"
After visiting little Zhengnan, Xu Qing returned to Underground Street, planning to discuss their future affairs with Senior Sister Yizhen.
According to worldly norms, it was time for them to be laid to rest as well.
However, before Xu Qing could enter the coffin shop, he noticed a familiar figure wearing mourning cloth at the shop entrance.
That person was none other than Wang Family's Little Sister, Wang Yue'e.