“Ying Cousin?”
“Cousin?”
The moment they saw Shen Ying, Shen Yi and Shen Wei recognised her.
After thirty years apart, Shen Ying had grown even more radiant and beautiful. Compared to their now aged selves, she appeared merely more mature, gaining an added touch of dignified grace.
Yet Shen Ying’s expression remained cool. After glancing at the pair, her gaze shifted to Master Zhixi. She shook her head helplessly. “Meddlesome monk.”
“Amitabha!”
Master Zhixi looked at Shen Ying and Lu Zheng. His eyes narrowed. He could discern nothing of their origins, not even Shen Ying’s ghostly form.
“Does the monk seek me for something?” Shen Ying’s peach-blossom eyes gleamed as she regarded Master Zhixi.
“Amitabha!”
Master Zhixi pressed palms together in salute. “Hearing Benefactress Shen saved young master Shen Yu’s life, the Shen family bears gratitude and comes specially to thank. This monk overstepped, assisting with qi-seeking. Pray Benefactress forgive.”
At this point, Master Zhixi dared not rashly claim probing intent. He swiftly changed to another reason.
Though proposing to find Shen Ying was his idea, Shen Wei and Shen Yi had indeed mentioned thanks and reunion. Thus, not entirely false.
Shen Ying smiled lightly, then turned her gaze to those behind him.
“What do you seek from me now?”
Shen Wei and Shen Yi stepped forward hurriedly, expressions complex.
“Cousin… I…” Shen Wei began, only for Shen Yi to continue. “Ying Sister, long unseen. We wish to invite you home for a few days. First, to thank for saving Little Yu. Second, to reminisce.”
“Yes, yes!” Shen Wei nodded repeatedly.
Shen Ying shook her head calmly. “No need. Saving Shen Yu was mere convenience. As for reminiscing… I have been dead thirty years. What old times remain to share?”
Shen Yi was speechless.
“Qingming approaches. Shen Yi invited Master Zhixi to conduct rites for several parents and uncles.” Shen Wei persuaded from another angle. “Second Uncle among them. Pray Cousin attend.”
Shen Ying laughed. Master Zhixi could not help grinning.
Never mind if Shen Yue couple were added last-minute. Just this altar rite.
Inviting eminent monk for full ritual: one, to honour the departed; two, spiritual blessing for the living.
With Shen Ying’s cultivation, did she need Master Zhixi’s minor arts like calming incantations, eye-brightening spells, sweet dew techniques?
Shen Wei, mortal, knew no inside story. It left Master Zhixi slightly embarrassed.
Yet Shen Ying’s demeanour reassured Master Zhixi. He saluted deeply. “May I ask where Benefactress Shen and this benefactor cultivate on what immortal mountain?”
Lu Zheng and Shen Ying exchanged smiles. This was Master Zhixi’s true purpose in qi-seeking.
Shen Wei and Shen Yi turned curious gazes upon Shen Ying and Lu Zheng.
To mortals, extraordinary folk inspired awe and curiosity.
Curious if Shen Ying truly cultivated in Netherworld?
What was Netherworld like?
Who was this man? What relation to Shen Ying… Well, no need to ask. Their hands had never parted.
Shen Ying shook her head with a smile. Dense incense qi surged upwards.
So intense, Master Zhixi felt his heartbeat slow half a beat.
Next instant, surroundings turned pink. Countless peach blossoms bloomed in void. Shen Ying rose into air, instantly changing to crimson-pink cyan-luo phoenix-tail trailing gown. Gorgeous makeup, enchanting allure, cool gaze, like an immortal descended.
Since probing my depth, I shall show you my depth!
“Hiss…”
Shen family stared wide-eyed, breathing slowed. Seeing Shen Ying so dazzling, aura mighty, they instinctively wished to kneel.
Next moment, Shen Yu, Mo Zonghan, and Shen Qian knelt directly.
“Amitabha!”
Master Zhixi startled rather than rejoiced. He inhaled deeply.
Such dense incense qi. How could a mere thirty-years-dead ghost possess it?
At least five hundred years cultivation, pure and profound, terrifying.
Even imperial incense gods enjoying national worship lacked this!
Could it be… evil deity illicit sacrifice?
Master Zhixi’s gaze sharpened. Heart pounding. Debating feign compliance to steady her or confront directly, he sensed another ethereal, fresh dao rhyme diffuse.
Master Zhixi whirled. Lu Zheng smiled at him. Wisps of faint white cloud qi drifted around, setting him off like an immortal.
Left and right with Shen Ying, hand in hand, no less imposing.
“Amitabha!”
Master Zhixi relaxed. Hastily spoke. “So Benefactress Shen entered Dao sect, cultivates incense god path, protects the Dao. Excellent, excellent!”
At this, Master Zhixi saluted Lu Zheng respectfully. “Guangxing Temple Zhixi greets Senior.”
Lu Zheng’s dao rhyme ethereal yet profound, utterly overwhelming Master Zhixi. Thus, he took Lu Zheng for an aged Dao monster preserving youth. Directly called Senior.
Besides, without Dao senior, whence such incense qi for Shen Ying’s cultivation?
He knew Shen Ying cultivated mere thirty years, yet now far surpassed him.
Lu Zheng, “…”
Finally, someone calls me Senior…
Master Zhixi clearly mistook Lu Zheng’s identity and Shen Ying’s situation. Lu Zheng meant to explain, but Shen Ying pulled him back.
No need to explain. Misunderstanding better. Thus, Shen family would harbour no unrealistic notions.
Shen Ying shook head, winking at Lu Zheng. Then withdrew divine power. Sky peach blossoms dispersed. She descended slowly, resuming plain face and light makeup.
“Rise!”
With a hand lift, the juniors rose, standing behind Shen Wei and Shen Yi. Still dazed by her earlier visage.
Lu Zheng nodded, addressing all. Finally spoke. “I brought my wife to pay respects to father- and mother-in-law. No intent to meet others. Saving Shen Yu and warning not because he is Shen family.
“I know the grudges between my wife and Shen family. Old matters need no words. Now my wife entered my sect, naturally no further ties to Shen family.”
“We understand, we understand!”
Shen family regained senses.
Shen Wei nodded hurriedly. “That year, we wronged. Dare not hope Cousin’s forgiveness. Henceforth, we shall properly tend Second Uncle couple’s graves and monuments.”
Shen Yi and the three juniors nodded repeatedly.
Lu Zheng nodded. Waved hand. “You may go.”
“Amitabha. This monk takes leave!” Master Zhixi proclaimed Buddha’s name, turning away.
Though Lu Zheng gave no name, Master Zhixi bore no displeasure. Knew it aimed not at him, but Shen family.
Master Zhixi withdrew. Shen family dearly wished more words with Shen Ying, but seeing their cool gazes, awed by their power, dared not linger.
As they prepared farewell, they found Lu Zheng and Shen Ying soaring on clouds, drifting towards Phoenix Mountain summit. Like divine couple, descended immortals.
…
Down the mountain path, Shen Wei could not help asking. “Master Zhixi, my cousin she…”
“Amitabha! Your cousin truly has great fortune.” Master Zhixi said. “That gentleman just now should be Dao senior. Dao rhyme extraordinary. At least thousand years cultivation.”
“Hiss…”
All inhaled sharply.
In tales, century-old ghosts already formidable. Millennium cultivation marked great bosses.
“Benefactress Shen wed that senior. Mere decades, profound cultivation. Already far above this monk.” Master Zhixi continued.
“Hiss…”
Another collective gasp.
Though her display shocked them, Master Zhixi’s evaluation astounded more.
Master Zhixi, hard-won invite by Shen Yi. Renowned monk in Guangxing Temple. Conducted altars, exorcised demons. Yet admitted far inferior to Shen Ying.
Master Zhixi shook head, sighed. “Divine couple, nothing more.”
Shen Wei and Shen Yi exchanged glances, only bitter smiles. Somewhat lost…
