Shen Siyuan stared blankly at the spot where the Old Daoist had disappeared, only coming back to his senses after a long while.
Although this was only their second meeting, the Old Daoist had helped Shen Siyuan immensely, resolving many of his doubts about this world, so Shen Siyuan had a very good impression of him.
But he never expected the man to just vanish so completely before his very eyes.
However, what was done was done.
Shen Siyuan didn't dwell on it and continued to examine the items in his hands.
It was a pity.
He hadn't even had the chance to tell the Old Daoist what the jade seal and jade tablet were before he dissipated.
The Old Daoist had spent his whole life trying to figure out what these two items were, but Shen Siyuan knew.
Both of them belonged to the category of Divine Appointment Edicts and had similar functions.
One appeared to be a certain Mountain Deity Seal, and the other a River Deity Edict.
Both were objects representing identity, and by extension, a Divine Position Object.
Shen Siyuan knew this, of course, because similar items existed in The Great Wilderness.
Unfortunately, these two Imperial Edicts had already lost their spiritual nature. They were completely useless, having become ordinary objects.
That was why the Old Daoist only knew their origins were extraordinary but could never figure out their purpose.
Shen Siyuan set down Embracing Wind Slumber and picked up the last item, a coil of iron chain.
The chain was only as thick as a finger and no more than two meters long. Though called an iron chain, it only resembled one in shape; it couldn't possibly be made of iron.
It was pitch-black, cool to the touch, and felt almost weightless.
Shen Siyuan examined it carefully, a look of pleasant surprise growing on his face until he could no longer suppress the smile at the corners of his mouth.
Because this was a Soul Hook Chain, an item belonging to a Netherworld Ghost Official, specifically used for hooking and binding souls.
Although it was just an ordinary item in the Underworld Realm, it was of great use to the current Shen Siyuan.
Most importantly, this item didn't require the world's Spiritual Qi. It only needed to be nourished with Netherworld Energy to be refined and wielded freely.
And Netherworld Energy was the one thing Shen Siyuan did not lack. At this thought, Shen Siyuan's will stirred.
He summoned the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, formed a hand seal, and lightly tapped the Soul Hook Chain.
A wisp of eerie blue flame coiled around the Soul Hook Chain, and the originally pitch-black chain began to emit a faint, blue, Eerie Light.
Finally, the Soul Hook Chain leaped up from the ground as if a hibernating snake had suddenly awakened. It writhed a few times before coiling around Shen Siyuan's sealed hand, slithering up his arm like a spirit snake playing with him.
But that wasn't all. Shen Siyuan grabbed the end of the Soul Hook Chain.
The chain seemed to jolt, instantly straightening out like a spear, but it quickly went limp again. However, it didn't fall to the ground, instead floating in the air, circling and weaving around Shen Siyuan's body.
Shen Siyuan pointed two fingers forward. The Soul Hook Chain, as if gaining sentience, immediately followed his gesture and shot forward.
"Good… good…"
Shen Siyuan was overjoyed. Although practically every Netherworld Ghost Official had one of these, it was indeed very useful.
But that was also why Shen Siyuan could refine it so easily.
Of course, the fact that its original owner had likely long since met their Demise, leaving no Brand behind, was another reason.
Regardless, this Soul Hook Chain was his now.
With a thought, the Soul Hook Chain wrapped around all the items on the ground and delivered them into Shen Siyuan's palm.
Shen Siyuan shouldered the Iron Shovel and walked toward the ruined gate of the Daoist Temple.
When he reached the gate, he looked at the Bodhi Tree in front of it.
A gentle breeze rustled the leaves, and the sunlight dappling the ground was like the dance of fish and dragons.
Amidst such a beautiful scene, a faint sadness welled up in Shen Siyuan's heart.
He glanced back at the crumbling ruins of the Wind Listening Temple, his gaze falling upon the Statues of the Three Pure Ones in the main hall. He set down the Iron Shovel, bowed once more, then gathered his things again and started down the mountain.
A gust of wind picked up a leaf from the Bodhi Tree, which fluttered gently into the hall. It spun around the Statues of the Three Pure Ones before finally settling on the broken offering table.
*
"Where did you run off to on such a hot day?"
Hearing the sound of the Motorcycle, Huang Huijuan came out from inside the house to greet him.
"Didn't I tell you? I went to see a classmate."
"Did you bury him?" Huang Huijuan asked, looking at the Iron Shovel strapped across the back of his motorcycle.
"Mom, what nonsense are you talking about?"
"Am I talking nonsense? I think you're the one who's full of it. Who brings an Iron Shovel to meet a classmate?"
"We buried a Time Capsule years ago.
We remembered it today, so we went to dig it up." Shen Siyuan was quite a skilled liar.
Huang Huijuan looked at her son with a suspicious expression.
"So where is it?"
"My classmate took it home."
"Which classmate?"
"You wouldn't know them even if I told you."
"A male classmate or a female classmate?"
"Mom, why are you asking so many questions? Where's Dad?" Shen Siyuan was getting annoyed by her interrogation.
"Sleeping in the Bedroom."
"What time is it? He's still sleeping."
Shen Siyuan wiped the sweat from his brow.
After being busy all afternoon, his clothes were completely soaked through.
"There's Watermelon in the Refrigerator.
Have some. I'll go wake your father up and have him give you a ride."
With that, Huang Huijuan turned and went back into the room to wake Shen Jianjun.
Shen Siyuan washed his hands, then went back to his room.
He took the jade seal and jade tablet out of his pocket and tossed them into a drawer, but he fastened the Soul Hook Chain around his waist, using it as a belt.
It was a shame the space inside the Ten Thousand Souls Banner couldn't be opened yet.
Once it could, he would be able to store the Soul Hook Chain directly inside it.
When he came out of his room again, his Dad was already up and pouring water into a glass from a water bottle.
Shen Jianjun glanced at Shen Siyuan but didn't ask where he had been all afternoon.
Huang Huijuan, however, saw that Shen Siyuan hadn't eaten any Watermelon and started to complain again.
"You're such a young master. I tell you to eat the Watermelon, but you won't touch it unless I get it for you, right?"
As she spoke, she took the Watermelon out of the Refrigerator.
Meanwhile, Shen Jianjun, who had just been pouring water, had already gone to the kitchen to get a knife.
"You have a couple of slices too, then take our son to Town."
Shen Jianjun nodded, deftly sliced the Watermelon, and handed the center part to Huang Huijuan.
Huang Huijuan accepted it without any hesitation.
"Is there anything you need me to buy? I can pick it up on my way back," Shen Jianjun said.
Huang Huijuan thought for a moment.
"Buy some Marinated Dishes to bring back."
Shen Jianjun nodded.
"Alright. I'll also buy some Lamb, and we can have a Barbecue tonight."
"Then I'll chill a few bottles of Beer for you later," said Huang Huijuan.
Shen Siyuan gnawed on his Watermelon slice on the side, listening to their conversation.
The iced Watermelon today felt exceptionally heart-chilling.
'So that's how it is, huh? I'm not coming back next time,' Shen Siyuan fumed internally.
"Mom, I'm leaving."
Shen Siyuan straddled the Motorcycle and waved to Huang Huijuan.
"Go on, go on. Seeing you is so annoying," Huang Huijuan said with a look of disdain.
Yet she stepped forward, straightened Shen Siyuan's collar, then pulled out a wad of cash from her pocket and stuffed it into his.
"Mom~" Shen Siyuan called out, his voice full of emotion.
"Alright, that's enough. Here's some money. Try to spend it wisely."
"That's not what I meant.
I was going to say, can you not give me cash next time? I have to go deposit it into my card, which is such a hassle. You can just use WeChat or Alipay to send me a Money Transfer…"
Hearing this, Huang Huijuan grew so annoyed she raised her hand to hit him.
Shen Siyuan hurriedly patted Shen Jianjun's back.
"Dad, let's go!"
But even though the Motorcycle was already started, he didn't move.
Only after Shen Siyuan took a few punches to the back did he finally step on the gas.