Chapter 761: You Have the Wrong Person

Inside the tea house.

Master Jin San was polishing the story Mister had told earlier.

Cao Fa sat nearby.

As he watched Master Jin San fill out the story word by word, a profound sense of destiny welled up within him.

Through that story, he felt he finally understood Mister.

Old acquaintances had departed; flowers had withered and leaves had fallen...

"So this was Mister's past."

Cao Fa let out a long sigh.

He looked toward the empty stage, falling into a daze.

It was true.

Time never waited for those who walked with faltering steps.

By the time one finally returned, the people of the past were gone, leaving only an empty hall behind.

Master Jin San set down his brush, suddenly at a loss for how to continue.

He used his brush to depict the affairs of the world, writing bizarre tales of Immortals, ghosts, and demons. Yet faced with emotions as complex and pure as Mister's, he felt completely powerless.

No lengthy discourse could express those feelings.

And a few simple words could never clarify such profound sorrow.

In truth, he had long known that some things could not be captured by words.

Much like his current predicament.

Master Jin San looked at Cao Fa. "Old Cao..."

"Hmm?"

"I was thinking, perhaps I should write something else."

Cao Fa paused. "That is entirely up to you. But you'll need to hurry. I don't even know if I'll be able to stand on that stage to tell your stories much longer."

Master Jin San exhaled softly. "There will be chances."

The oil lamp on the table burned with a steady, quiet flame.

The two sat opposite each other in the utter silence of the tea house.

In their twilight years, the two men had shed the impulsiveness of their youth. All that remained was the hard-won tranquility that came after weathering the vicissitudes of life.

Outside the tea house.

A woman stood watching the figures inside.

It was none other than Zhishu.

An underworld deputy stood right behind her, keeping watch to ensure she didn't do anything out of line.

Seeing Cao Fa like this brought Zhishu a great deal of peace.

She turned to the underworld deputy. "Thank you for the trouble, sir."

The underworld deputy nodded slightly, not saying a word.

Within Qingshan City, Zhishu was the sole exception.

Years ago, Yu Hongjin had wreaked havoc in the City God Temple, nearly smashing the statue of the City God Lord himself. After such an incident, the underworld deputies didn't dare lay a hand on Zhishu.

However, they still wouldn't let her act recklessly.

Rumble!!

A sudden clap of thunder rang out.

A gust of wind swept in.

It blew the main doors of the tea house open.

Cao Fa stumbled to his feet to close them, thinking a heavy rain was likely coming tonight.

He reached the doorway and glanced up at the sky, seeing that dark clouds had already blotted out the moon and stars.

Just as he reached out to close the doors, he paused.

Cao Fa stood stunned, as if he had seen something out on the street.

He blinked, thinking his eyes were playing tricks on him.

He rubbed his eyes.

But he couldn't see the figure anymore. In the blink of an eye, the street was utterly empty once more.

Cao Fa opened his mouth, his lips trembling. "Jin, Jin..."

"Jin San... San..."

In his shock, he could barely force the words out.

Master Jin San heard the faint cry.

He immediately turned around and saw Cao Fa staring intently ahead.

Master Jin San asked, "What's the matter?"

Cao Fa grabbed him in a panic. "Is it her? Is it her? Quickly, look for me, quickly look for me!"

Bewildered, Master Jin San turned to look.

"What her? Who?"

His gaze fell upon the street, and then he froze.

The figure of a woman was walking down the street, accompanied by an underworld deputy with Binding Chains at his waist.

Master Jin San stared blankly, his mind reeling.

How could this be possible?

How long had it been?!

"Is it her?!" Cao Fa demanded anxiously, his breathing growing ragged.

Master Jin San hurriedly grabbed his hand. "We're going after them!"

Cao Fa quickly agreed.

But he couldn't run fast. Even with Master Jin San pulling him along, he stumbled.

Realizing this wouldn't work, Cao Fa gasped, "You go first, don't worry about me! If it's her, come back and tell me! I can't do it... my legs won't keep up."

"Cut the nonsense! I'll carry you!"

Master Jin San snapped, stepping in front of Cao Fa, grabbing his hands, and hoisting him onto his back.

Cao Fa couldn't refuse, and so he was carried forward in pursuit.

Master Jin San was getting on in years, and carrying someone was undeniably taxing, but he didn't dare stop.

He panted heavily, sweat pouring down his forehead.

Staring at the figure in the distance.

Master Jin San hollered, "Wait! Wait!!"

Cao Fa also stared straight ahead; though he couldn't see anything, he could feel it.

She was right there. Right up ahead.

The sound reached them.

Zhishu paused slightly and looked back.

The underworld deputy also stopped and looked over his shoulder.

When Master Jin San caught sight of the woman's face, he froze.

It was her! It was her!

He sped up and ran over.

But Zhishu snapped back to her senses.

"Are these two old acquaintances from your life?" the underworld deputy asked.

Zhishu hesitated. She opened her mouth to speak, but in an instant seemed to make up her mind.

"No."

The underworld deputy nodded and didn't look again.

"Let's go."

Zhishu said. She turned her head and continued walking forward.

Seeing her move, Master Jin San shouted, "Don't go!"

At those words, Zhishu's arm trembled, but she gritted her teeth and kept walking.

The veins on Master Jin San's forehead bulged.

He pushed his speed and chased after her.

A moment later, he scrambled in front of Zhishu, blocking her and the underworld deputy.

The underworld deputy scowled. He yanked his Binding Chains and barked, "The Netherworld Bureau is on official business! Mortals, stand aside!"

Master Jin San stopped and set Cao Fa down.

Cao Fa couldn't see the underworld deputy or Zhishu, so he asked, "Is she here?"

Master Jin San hesitated. "She..."

Just as Master Jin San was about to speak, Zhishu cut him off. "You have the wrong person."

The words stunned Master Jin San.

"What?"

Zhishu just looked at Master Jin San and gave a small shake of her head, saying nothing.

Master Jin San stood in a daze.

Suddenly, the underworld deputy stepped forward, the Binding Chains gripped in his hands.

Meeting those cold eyes.

Master Jin San finally snapped out of his stupor.

The underworld deputy spoke. "For the living to block the path is a grave taboo. If you don't move aside, don't blame me for getting violent!"

Master Jin San opened his mouth.

He glanced at Cao Fa beside him.

Cao Fa stared blankly ahead. "Are you Zhishu? Are you? Where are you? I can't see... I can't see."

Master Jin San looked back at Zhishu.

Zhishu simply repeated, "You have the wrong person."

Master Jin San understood.

He turned back to Cao Fa. "She isn't Zhishu..."

Cao Fa went still, the energy draining out of him in an instant.

Master Jin San's expression turned calm. Cupping his hands, he said, "Forgive the intrusion. We will clear the way."