A Visit to Xirang Town and the Peculiar Miss Li

Still half-asleep, Bai Wanwan boarded the taxi. Leaning against Liu Hanzhi’s shoulder, she promptly drifted back into a deep slumber.

Today, Liu Hanzhi was not dressed in a cheongsam. Instead, she wore a fitted ‘stepmother dress’ that exuded an air of elegance. She completed the look with sheer stockings and delicate high heels, presenting the image of a pampered young woman from a wealthy family.

In truth, Liu Hanzhi remained the same person she always was. It was merely the paper-crafted clothes, fashioned by Bai Wanwan, that accentuated her inherent grace.

In stark contrast to Liu Hanzhi’s refined and opulent attire, Bai Wanwan’s clothing was noticeably much more ordinary.

This disparity was primarily due to the fact that Liu Hanzhi’s garments were fashioned from paper, while Bai Wanwan’s had to be purchased with actual money.

Having only recently emerged from the struggle for basic sustenance, Bai Wanwan naturally possessed no spare funds to acquire fashionable clothes for herself.

She was dressed in a simple jacket, a shirt, and sweatpants, paired with white athletic shoes. On her back, a small backpack contained some snacks, water, and a stack of folded joss paper.

Liu Hanzhi gazed at Bai Wanwan, who was resting on her shoulder. Observing her nominal ‘little bride,’ she found herself momentarily lost in thought.

“She truly is beautiful…”

Her fair skin, flushed with a delicate pink, complemented facial features as exquisitely carved as a sculpture. It was as if all the world’s beauty had converged upon her.

As the taxi emerged from a tunnel, they arrived at Liu Hanzhi’s destination.

“Wanwan, wake up.”

Liu Hanzhi gently nudged Bai Wanwan. Slowly, Bai Wanwan opened her eyes and surveyed her surroundings.

They were in a small town nestled at the foot of a mountain, far removed from the city. Thanks to its mountainous location, the environment was pristine, and the air remarkably fresh.

“The Yin Messenger is here?”

After paying the taxi fare, Bai Wanwan followed Liu Hanzhi into the town.

The town possessed a quaint, ancient charm. An old, venerable archway stood prominently within it, appearing to have endured countless years.

“Xirang Town?”

Reading the archaic characters on the archway, Bai Wanwan felt a distinct sense of oppression from the name.

“Yes, right here in this town. I’ve interacted with her a few times before,” Liu Hanzhi explained. “I mainly wanted to pay her to help me reincarnate, but my situation is too tricky. Even she had no solutions.”

As Liu Hanzhi spoke, she led Bai Wanwan to the front of an ancient-looking residence. Nearby, a funeral supplies shop stood with its doors open.

The funeral supplies shop was surprisingly large and occupied a prime street-side location, which caught Bai Wanwan off guard.

Logically, such a shop should be tucked away in a quiet corner, relying on word-of-mouth to attract customers. Being situated on a bustling main road, it was bound to make living people feel a bit uneasy if they spotted it.

“Hello, is Miss Li in?”

Liu Hanzhi knocked on the large door. Moments later, a crack appeared as the door opened just enough for an old woman’s head to peek out. Her face bore a prominent scar, and one eye was blind, startling Bai Wanwan considerably.

“Granny, we’re looking for Miss Li.”

Liu Hanzhi, however, remained completely unperturbed, as if she had long grown accustomed to such sights.

After scrutinizing them with her cloudy eyes and empty socket, the old woman finally unlatched the courtyard gate.

As Bai Wanwan stepped into the courtyard, she realized it was far from ordinary. The feng shui was meticulously arranged, and everything hanging within served a precise purpose, perfectly placed.

The owner was undeniably a person of great discernment, possessing an exceptionally deep understanding of local customs and traditions.

“Oh, isn’t it Miss Liu? I’ve already told you, I cannot resolve your issue.”

A woman’s voice drifted from the main hall in the center of the house. Though a door separated them, Bai Wanwan and Liu Hanzhi could hear her words with perfect clarity.

“Miss Li has a very peculiar personality,” Liu Hanzhi explained to Bai Wanwan. “She never invites people inside to talk. Anything that needs to be discussed is always done standing in the courtyard.”

Liu Hanzhi then addressed Miss Li, stating their purpose for the visit.

Upon hearing that Bai Wanwan wished for her Yin Messengers to assist with a delivery, Miss Li could not help but burst into laughter.

“Are you serious? Yin Messengers don’t lack for your paltry offerings,” Miss Li scoffed. “I advise you to abandon that notion.”

A distinct dismissive tone had already crept into Miss Li’s voice.

“Then… perhaps Miss Li would first consider our sincerity.”

As Liu Hanzhi spoke, she gestured for Bai Wanwan to retrieve the folded joss paper.