Chapter 30: The City God Invites You

Yin Qing stopped, hesitating, when he reached this point.

"Mr. Ji, this place... my mom and dad don't let us come anywhere near here..."

Little Yin Qing wasn't quite sure how to explain it to Ji Yuan, worried that speaking too plainly might offend the refined-looking gentleman.

Seeing his hesitation, Ji Yuan decided not to push the child. He knew that the malevolent entity within the residence had already been vanquished by the City God's Four Divisions, but others were not privy to this information.

"Alright, just leave the buckets and carrying pole by the door; I'll take them inside myself."

Ji Yuan said this with a smile, stepping forward to help little Yin Qing unload the carrying pole. Even though he had carried water for Ji Yuan for a considerable distance, a blush of embarrassment spread across the boy's face.

"Sir, you, you really shouldn't live here! This place is..."

Yin Qing swallowed hard, glanced at the sun, but was still too afraid to stand at the courtyard gate and voice his true feelings.

His elders had warned him not to casually discuss the Dwelling of Peace, especially its inhabitants. Doing so was highly taboo, and if a malevolent spirit were to take offense, it would be disastrous.

Seeing his reluctance to speak, Ji Yuan showed understanding and gently patted Yin Qing's head.

"Just call me Mr. Ji. It's truly commendable to have such a kind heart at your age. As for this Dwelling of Peace, you don't need to worry; I'll be perfectly fine living here!"

"Go on home now; don't let your family worry."

"Alright then, Mr. Ji, I'll be going..."

Yin Qing could no longer bear to stand at the entrance of the Dwelling of Peace. For a child, he had already done remarkably well to stay this long. After saying goodbye, he quickly trotted away.

As Ji Yuan watched Yin Qing leave, he suddenly sensed something inexplicable and turned his head, looking towards the other side of the path.

Not far away, a figure resembling a constable stood, dressed in a white robe and wearing a tall hat. His steps gave Ji Yuan a sense of unreality; crucially, they were silent.

A ghost? A ghost that can appear in broad daylight?

The constable glided closer to Ji Yuan, then bowed and cupped his hands in greeting.

"The Left Official of the Day Patrol, under the jurisdiction of the Ning'an County City God, greets Mr. Ji!"

Ji Yuan felt little fear. Seeing the figure's official attire, he surmised it was a netherworld envoy of the Ning'an County City God. His brief encounter the previous night had already left him with a favorable impression of the Ning'an County City God system.

As for how he knew Ji Yuan's surname, it might have been overheard, or perhaps discovered through other means.

"What brings you here?"

Since the other party had addressed him, Ji Yuan felt obliged to respond.

Not far away, Yin Qing, who hadn't yet run out of earshot, heard Ji Yuan's voice behind him and instinctively stopped, turning to look back.

'Is that gentleman not talking to me?'

When he turned around, he saw only Ji Yuan, facing away from the pavilion's gate as if speaking to someone, yet the path in that direction was completely empty.

A shiver ran down his spine, and Yin Qing quickly fled as if his life depended on it.

The Day Patrol respectfully answered Ji Yuan's inquiry.

"The City God requests Mr. Ji's presence at the City God Temple for a discussion. If it is convenient for Mr. Ji, you may proceed there immediately."

Now? To meet the Ning'an County City God?

Outwardly composed, Ji Yuan felt an inexplicable sensation, like a humble commoner about to meet a major city official. As for whether to go, there was no question.

"Day Patrol, please wait a moment while I take these two buckets of water inside."

"By all means, Mr. Ji!"

Ji Yuan said nothing further. He picked up the carrying pole, carefully stood up once the rope hooks were secured to the buckets, then, imitating Yin Qing, steadied the ropes with both hands rather than gripping the pole itself.

He managed not to embarrass himself in front of the Day Patrol, safely carrying the water to the kitchen door in the courtyard.

The Day Patrol waited outside the courtyard, observing Ji Yuan laboriously lift the buckets and pour water into the vat, with quite a bit splashing onto his clothes. He appeared to be anything but a mystical expert.

Yet for some reason, the more unassuming Ji Yuan seemed, the more deferential the Day Patrol became, not even daring to stand too casually.

The City God had once remarked that those self-proclaimed cultivators from renowned mountains and great rivers, who often acted arrogant and imposing, were more scoundrels than gentlemen and rarely true masters. Genuine masters, he said, should subtly align with the natural order of the heavens, embodying simplicity and authenticity!

"Phew..."

Ji Yuan set down the buckets, exhaling a sigh of relief. He glanced at his cuffs and the hem of his robe, noting that the previous splashes hadn't dried, and now they were a bit wetter.

However, since waking up, he had already come to terms with things. He never intended to pose as a grand master in front of the City God anyway, so being free of such pretenses made him feel quite at ease.

He rolled down his sleeves, then casually brushed his front and back with them before stepping out of the courtyard gate. After closing the main gate, he finally looked at the Day Patrol.

"Let's go. I would be much obliged if the Day Patrol could lead the way. I am new to Ning'an County and do not know the location of the City God Temple."

At this point, Ji Yuan no longer worried about whether he'd brushed his teeth; he simply prepared to go.

"It is my honor! Mr. Ji, please proceed!"

The Day Patrol gestured for him to proceed. Contrary to Ji Yuan's concern that he might float ahead like a spirit, the patrolman instead took the first steps forward.

Once Ji Yuan caught up, the Day Patrol slowed his pace, walking beside him as if in escort. Ji Yuan looked at him, unsure what to say, and simply continued forward, reasoning that if he got lost, he could always ask for directions.

After walking about a hundred paces, at the first fork in the alley, the Day Patrol quickly moved ahead to the left, standing sideways and extending a hand.

"Mr. Ji, this way please!"

"Uh, alright!"

As Ji Yuan walked past, the Day Patrol once again walked alongside him.

'This is... a bit awkward... I'm truly no important figure...'

The Day Patrol's overly deferential attitude made Ji Yuan feel extremely awkward. Even Lu Chengfeng, that day, hadn't been this polite.

Down a small alley in Tianniu Quarter, the Day Patrol, invisible to ordinary eyes, slowly proceeded alongside Ji Yuan, who, to the common folk, appeared quite distinguished.

To alleviate the awkwardness, Ji Yuan decided to try and make conversation with the Day Patrol.

"May I inquire about the Day Patrol's surname?"

Although ghosts do not breathe, Ji Yuan felt as if the Day Patrol had also let out a sigh of relief.

"I dare not presume. My surname in life was Liu, and my given name was Jiang."

"Oh, Day Patrol Liu!"

"I wouldn't dare!"

Ji Yuan found this manner of speaking a bit tiresome, but there was nothing he could do; he had to adapt to local customs.

"Day Patrol Liu, you were a native of Ning'an during your lifetime, weren't you?"

"Precisely. In life, I hailed from Xiaowanhe Village, under Ning'an County. I once served as an official in the Ning'an County Yamen. Due to my kind heart and diligence during my lifetime, upon my death, the City God of this county promoted me to Day Patrol. That was twenty-two years ago!"

Ji Yuan observed the Day Patrol's face, which appeared middle-aged beneath his official cap, but his own heart was far from calm.

'Good heavens, so this Day Patrol must be much older than my grandfather...'

"Day Patrol Liu, you eliminated evil and brought peace in life, and now you protect this region after death. You have been a diligent public servant in both the mortal and spiritual realms; that is truly admirable!"

While Ji Yuan's words contained an element of deliberate flattery, the sentiment was largely sincere.

Public servants like the Day Patrol deserve respect everywhere, particularly within the broader context of ancient society.

"Mr. Ji, you flatter me unduly!"

Although he said this, Ji Yuan could tell the Day Patrol was genuinely pleased.

A simple compliment and affirmation might not bring any tangible benefits, but they can certainly bring joy to good people—or rather, good spirits.

The atmosphere shed its earlier awkwardness and became more harmonious. As Ji Yuan walked, he suddenly felt a subtle stir, glanced towards a corner up ahead in the alley, smiled, and continued conversing with the Day Patrol.

Far ahead, little Yin Qing's heart pounded. He ran as fast as his legs would carry him, not stopping again.

It was too frightening, just too frightening! That gentleman was walking along, seemingly chatting with someone, but he must have been talking to a ghost!

The ghost from the Dwelling of Peace had come out with that gentleman!