Lin Xihang asked the police for information. After he finished, he walked towards Zhao Yan.
"The person covered by the white cloth is Zhang Ciyu. There was another man in the room who wasn't dead and was sent to the hospital."
"That man should be the master who sold things to Zhang Ciyu."
"Master Zhao, people like that shouldn't be left alive. Once he gets out of the police station, who knows who he'll harm."
"Don't worry. Even if that master wakes up, he'll either become an imbecile or a lunatic."
Zhao Yan said as she turned and walked back. Seeing Lin Xihang's confused expression, she explained, "The Yin Weng technique is inherently a harmful one. Being backfired by one's own technique is no trivial matter."
"That's truly gratifying!" Lin Xihang said, clapping his hands.
Zhao Yan hummed softly and returned to the car with him.
Lin Xihang sat in the car without driving. After a long while, he said, "Master Zhao, I'd like to visit Luo Qin's hometown to see her. Could you accompany me?"
"Now?" Zhao Yan asked.
It was already past eight in the evening.
"Yes, right now," Lin Xihang said.
Zhao Yan rubbed her temples. She had initially intended to suggest taking Lin Xihang to see Luo Qin.
Seeing his state of mind, she nodded and said, "Let's go then."
"By the way, I won't charge you this time."
Luo Qin's hometown was over a hundred li from Jiangcheng. At Lin Xihang's driving speed, they would arrive in a little over two hours.
After more than two hours, the car drove into a mountain village.
They reached the center of the village, where Lin Xihang parked the car. Zhao Yan got out with him.
They arrived at the doorstep of a house. Zhao Yan looked at it; it was a two-story flat-roofed house, and the lights inside were still on.
There was also a small courtyard with some vegetables planted.
"Uncle Luo," Lin Xihang called out from the doorway.
Hurried footsteps sounded from inside, and a little boy ran out first, hugging Lin Xihang's leg and shouting happily, "Brother Lin."
He glanced at Zhao Yan and buried his head in Lin Xihang's thigh, shy.
"Little Lin, come in and sit down," a man in his forties stumbled to the doorway, beckoning Lin Xihang.
Lin Xihang said gently, "Uncle Luo, are you doing well?"
"My dad is fine. He was helping people slaughter cattle a few days ago," the little boy said.
"That's good," Lin Xihang said, then turned and nodded at Zhao Yan.
Zhao Yan followed him into the house.
Upon entering, the first thing they saw was Luo Qin's award certificates; one wall was covered with them.
On the table, besides the television, there were many trophies.
She picked up a trophy and looked at it. There wasn't a speck of dust on it, and the base was spotless.
"Uncle Luo, you don't need to get water. I want to offer incense to Qinqin today, and we'll leave after that," Lin Xihang said.
"Then I'll take you. It's dark, and the road is difficult to navigate," Uncle Luo said.
Seeing that his leg was inconvenient, Lin Xihang said, "It's alright, Uncle Luo. Let Dah Hu come with us."
"That's fine. Dah Hu! Go get some incense and paper money and go up the mountain with your Brother Lin."
The little boy said "Okay" and took the incense and paper money in a red plastic bag in his right hand, holding a flashlight in his left.
Zhao Yan squatted down to help him carry it, but the little boy shook his head, "It's not heavy, sister."
"Sister, you walk in front of me, not behind me. If you're behind me, my flashlight won't be able to light the way for you."
Zhao Yan pinched Dah Hu's cheek. So well-behaved.
They arrived at Luo Qin's grave. There was another grave next to it.
Lin Xihang said it was Luo Qin's mother's grave.
Luo Qin's death had been too great a blow to her mother, and two years after Luo Qin's passing, her mother also passed away.
Only Uncle Luo and Dah Hu were left in the family.
Even so, Uncle Luo refused to apply for welfare, saying that although his leg was broken, his hands were still functional.
Some people were more unfortunate and more deserving.
"So I gave Uncle Luo a job. He weaves baskets every day, and I buy them as he makes them."
"I think he needs a job more than relief."
Zhao Yan nodded in agreement.
They offered incense to Luo Qin and burned paper money for her mother.
Zhao Yan sat to the side, watching Lin Xihang sit by Luo Qin's grave and say something.
"Dah Hu, come here." Zhao Yan saw Dah Hu pulling weeds from her sister's grave and beckoned him.
Dah Hu dropped the weeds he was holding and ran to her side.
Zhao Yan opened her backpack and took out a talisman.
"This is a good luck charm. When you get home, cut a bamboo tube, wrap the charm in it, and put it inside the bamboo tube."
"Then, make a hole in the bamboo tube, thread it with a red string, and hang it around your neck."
"On a certain day in a certain year, it will bring you good luck."
Dah Hu's eyes lit up. "Really, sister?"
"Of course, it's true. This good luck charm of mine can help you advance further. Your noble palace is wide and flat, and your chin is round and fleshy, which can hold wealth."
"But you must listen to me, sister. You must abstain from alcohol, or you will face a calamity at thirty-five."
"Do you understand, Dah Hu?"
Dah Hu nodded. "I understand, sister."
"Then tell me, what must you abstain from?" Zhao Yan asked.
"Abstain from alcohol!" Dah Hu replied.
"Good. When you have money, don't do anything bad. If I find out, I'll take back the good luck charm."
Dah Hu nodded and shouted, "Okay."
"Pinky promise," Zhao Yan said.
"Pinky promise," Dah Hu extended his little finger.
After their pinky promise, Dah Hu ran towards Lin Xihang, holding the good luck charm and talking to him.
"Then you must listen to Sister Zhao. Sister Zhao is a very capable person," Lin Xihang said, stroking Dah Hu's head.
His mood had improved considerably, and his face was no longer as melancholic as before.
When the last candle burned out, they got up and left.
After bidding farewell to Dah Hu and Uncle Luo, Zhao Yan returned to the car.
Once in the car, Lin Xihang said to her, "Master Zhao, can I hire you as the Feng Shui consultant for my company?"
"My offer will not be unfair to you."
"No, no, I already have my plans," Zhao Yan said, shaking her head.
She wanted to realize her dream of becoming the world's greatest talisman master.
She couldn't achieve her aspirations in a company, and it would likely restrict her.
Lin Xihang sighed regretfully.
Seeing that he hadn't started driving yet, Zhao Yan asked, "Is there anything else?"
Lin Xihang looked at her small backpack.
Having seen Zhao Yan pull out such a long peach wood sword from her small backpack, he had been very curious.
"Master Zhao, could you let me see your backpack?" Lin Xihang asked.
Zhao Yan looked at her backpack. "This isn't some designer bag."
Saying that, she still handed him the backpack.
Lin Xihang took it and opened the zipper. He looked inside the backpack, which was empty. He asked in confusion, "Huh? Where's the peach wood sword?"
Zhao Yan took it back, reached inside, and pulled out the peach wood sword.
"Are you looking for this?"
Lin Xihang was astonished. He exclaimed, "Doesn't this backpack have nothing in it? How can you pull out a peach wood sword?"