Chapter 746: This Is What the Trading Firm Owes Them

Yu Hongjin froze upon hearing this.

Disbelief filled her eyes, slowly giving way to dazed bewilderment.

She shook her head, muttering, "How could this be? How could it..."

Zhishu stepped forward and pulled her into a hug. "It's all right, Little Miss," she murmured. "It's all right."

Yu Hongjin's eyes grew red. She looked at Zhishu, then turned to glance at Chen Changsheng.

"I... I didn't..."

Realizing her mistake, she was completely at a loss.

She had never imagined her actions would lead to this. She had only wanted to save Zhishu; she hadn't known any of this.

Chen Changsheng looked at her. "Don't panic just yet," he said. "If Zhishu wishes to enter Reincarnation again, purging the corruption from her soul is no difficult task for This Chen."

Yu Hongjin blanked for a moment. She pursed her lips, feeling marginally better, though the deep guilt in her heart could not be erased.

Chen Changsheng looked between the two of them. "The question now is what choice to make."

Zhishu paused and looked up at him. "Mister Chen, do I even have a choice?"

Chen Changsheng nodded. "Naturally."

"The cultivators of this world walk many different paths. Wandering souls in the Mortal World often twist into malevolent ghosts under the weight of their resentment. However, there are also souls who, through a stroke of fate, step onto the path of Cultivation. This is known as ghost cultivation. Not long ago, This Chen met such a practitioner."

Yu Hongjin raised her head. "Ghosts can practice Cultivation?"

Chen Changsheng nodded. "They can. But it comes at a price."

"Compared to ordinary cultivators, the Way of Ghost Cultivation is far more arduous. Furthermore, taking this path effectively destroys any chance of entering Reincarnation. But its advantages are equally striking. The Lifespan of a ghost practitioner is several times that of a normal cultivator. Merely stepping onto this path grants what one might call Changsheng, making them akin to a spectral deity."

His tone shifted as he added, "But Changsheng is not necessarily a good thing."

Cultivators throughout the world desperately sought Changsheng, yet none willingly sought the Way of Ghost Cultivation. Fundamentally, this was because a ghost practitioner could never attain true Changsheng. In the eyes of cultivators, true Changsheng meant transcending the Three Realms and ascending as a True Immortal. Ghost cultivation had a hard limit; by discarding the physical flesh, one lost the qualifications to cross that final threshold. That was why so few willingly embraced this path.

Zhishu looked dazed. She didn't understand any of this.

Yu Hongjin, however, realized what this meant and hurriedly said, "Mister, you have to teach Sister Zhishu! Please, Hongjin begs you!"

She grabbed Chen Changsheng's hand, her eyes full of pleading.

But Chen Changsheng shook his head. "Hongjin, ghost cultivation is a path, but not necessarily a good one. This matter depends entirely on what Zhishu wants."

"If you forgo ghost cultivation, This Chen can guarantee you will enter Reincarnation free of corruption. But if you walk the path of a ghost, everything changes."

Ghost practitioners only had this single existence. Eventually, such cultivators would be spurned by the Heavenly Dao. They had only one final destination: the complete scattering of their soul.

In Chen Changsheng's eyes, both paths had their merits. Neither was strictly right or wrong; it simply came down to what one considered worthwhile.

Yu Hongjin looked over. "Sister Zhishu, what do you think?"

Zhishu snapped out of her daze. She looked at the Little Miss, but no words came to her.

She was completely torn.

Seeing her hesitation, Yu Hongjin asked, "Mister, which one do you think is better?"

Chen Changsheng shook his head. "This Chen does not know."

He could offer no advice here.

Looking at the uncertain maid, Chen Changsheng said, "There is no rush. Take your time to think it over. This Chen will be in Qingshan City for the next few days. Come tell me once you have made your decision."

Zhishu looked up and gave a deep bow. "Zhishu thanks Mister."

Chen Changsheng nodded, then turned to Yu Hongjin. "I haven't had anything to drink on the journey here. I'm a bit thirsty."

Yu Hongjin blinked, then eagerly volunteered, "I'll go fetch you some wine right now!"

"Hey, wait—"

Chen Changsheng tried to stop her.

But the girl was incredibly fast. Hitching up her skirt, she skipped all the way to the back.

Zhishu hurriedly chased after her. "Little Miss, no, you've got it wrong! We serve guests tea, not wine!"

But she was no match for Yu Hongjin's speed.

Chen Changsheng couldn't help but laugh as he watched them.

This Yu Hongjin was as mischievous and quirky as ever.

Despite Zhishu's protests, Yu Hongjin eventually emerged carrying a full jar of wine.

The jar was anything but small; she staggered under its weight.

Chen Changsheng opened his mouth, pointing at the massive jug. "With a jar this size, who are you trying to drink to death?"

Yu Hongjin blinked innocently. "But it's good."

Seeing Yu Hongjin's silly expression, Chen Changsheng could not help but laugh.

Yu Hongjin lowered her voice to a whisper. "I've been hiding it for a long time."

As she spoke, she threw a sidelong glance at Zhishu.

Zhishu met her gaze and finally offered a helpless smile.

...

Over in a private room at the tea house, Yunxiang finished reviewing the recent accounts.

The counting rods in her hands flicked continuously, clicking steadily.

Shopkeeper Liu stood waiting at the side, answering whatever the young lady asked. Beside him stood another man, Zhang Jishi, the record-keeper for the Tang Family Trading Firm in Qingshan City. Ever since Shopkeeper Zhuang had passed on, Liu had taken over as the shopkeeper of the tea house. Later, seeing his competence, Yunxiang had promoted him to manage the Tang Manor's operations across Qingshan City. Today was the day to settle the accounts.

"These accounts don't match up," Yunxiang said, frowning.

Shopkeeper Liu stiffened, then hurriedly replied, "Reporting to the Miss—last month, Mister Jin borrowed thirty-six liang from the tea house. At the time, Mister Cao was gravely ill and needed money for medicine, so I took it upon myself to approve the loan. I ask the Miss for punishment."

Yunxiang looked at the record-keeper beside her. "Is this true?"

Zhang Jishi nodded. "Yes, Miss. It is true."

Yunxiang gave a slow nod. "Next time, make sure to inform me in advance. Additionally, disburse another one hundred liang to the two misters. If it's still not enough, tell them they can come to the tea house and take whatever they need. There is no need for them to write an IOU."

Shopkeeper Liu breathed a sigh of relief. "I thank the Miss on behalf of the two misters."

Yunxiang shook her head, but said something that left Shopkeeper Liu completely baffled.

"This is what the trading firm owes them."

Shopkeeper Liu stared blankly, not quite understanding, but he didn't dare ask for clarification. He simply stood quietly at the side.

Yunxiang snapped the ledger shut and rose to her feet. "Business matters cannot be handled carelessly. Thirty-six liang is not a large sum, but it is still the trading firm's money. Since this is your first offense, I will let it go. But if it happens again, you will be heavily punished."

Shopkeeper Liu quickly bowed his head. "I know my wrong. I absolutely will not do it again."

Yunxiang nodded, then stepped out and left the tea house.

Only then did Shopkeeper Liu finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Standing at the side, Zhang Jishi patted Shopkeeper Liu on the shoulder. "There absolutely cannot be a second time. You know the Miss's temper."

Shopkeeper Liu gave a helpless smile. "Zhang Jishi, if you were me, would you have done it?"

Zhang Jishi only smiled, offering no answer.

He thought to himself that he probably would have done the same.