Zhou Huan scolded Dongzi until the younger man’s eyes welled up with tears: “Brother, I remember now. I promise I will study hard from now on.” Dongzi felt deeply wronged, but he committed Zhou Huan’s criticism firmly to memory.

Zhou Huan truly did not wish to scold Dongzi so harshly, but he truly hated seeing potential wasted, hoping Dongzi could take over the new responsibilities sooner and support the business in time.

“Alright, Dongzi, quickly go tidy up. We are preparing for dinner. Eat well and rest after, and make sure the door is locked!” With that, Zhou Huan returned to his room. Li Tianxiong and Dongzi began to busy themselves, and the night passed swiftly.

The next morning, the road was bustling with activity. Since it was not the weekend, pedestrians and cars hurried about their livelihoods in a disorderly fashion, while a few traffic police directed the flow of vehicles.

Hong Kun’s car slowly pulled up in front of Zhou Huan’s door and gave two quick beeps. Zhou Huan, with Li Tianxiong in tow, instructed Dongzi to watch the shop. The two men stepped out, preparing to get into the car. However, Hong Kun did not open the doors for them; instead, he opened the rear doors.

“What is this…” Zhou Huan asked Hong Kun, confused.

When the car doors swung open, what greeted Zhou Huan and Li Tianxiong was a vehicle entirely filled with funeral wreaths, joss paper, and bunches of yellow and white flowers. Within this floral arrangement, two minuscule spaces had been cleared, just enough for two seat cushions.

“Master Zhou, the two of you will have to make do with these humble seats today, as we will require all of this for our work,” Hong Kun said, a hint of triumph and mockery lurking beneath his smile.

Zhou Huan knew immediately this was a deliberate arrangement by Hong Kun. Zhou Huan was no fool; this was a major taboo in the Funeral Master community. Placing two seats amidst wreaths and flowers, for people to sit on, was essentially creating an array to drain the vitality of the occupants—Hong Kun had clearly set this trap intentionally.

Zhou Huan offered a slight smile: “If Brother Hong were to add an incense burner with three sticks of incense to this setup, my apprentice and I would truly become the ones being commemorated.”

“Why… does Master Zhou not wish to sit, or are you afraid to?” Hong Kun feigned deference, acting as though he were about to usher Zhou Huan in.

Li Tianxiong also smiled faintly: “Master, let’s get in the car. What is this minor display?”

Zhou Huan remained exceedingly polite: “Master Hong, please just drive. You can rest assured about us here; it would be too impolite for us to take advantage of your ride without contributing in some way!”

“Very well, Master Zhou is indeed Master Zhou. Please!” Hong Kun gestured for Zhou Huan and Li Tianxiong to enter the car, then closed the rear door.

Once Zhou Huan and Li Tianxiong were seated, Zhou Huan instructed Li Tianxiong, “Form the Pure Water Hand Seal and keep the Great Compassion Mantra in your mind!”

“Understood, Master!” The two settled into a lotus position, formed the Pure Water Hand Seal with their hands, and silently began reciting the Great Compassion Mantra.

As Hong Kun drove, he started a conversation with Zhou Huan: “Master Zhou, which way are we going? I don’t know where your first client is located.”

Zhou Huan replied in a low, cordial tone: “Sanma Road Furniture City, De Shi Doors!”

“Good. You two sit tight; we’ll be there shortly.” The roar of the car’s accelerator was audible, and the vehicle began to sway slightly.

But Zhou Huan and his apprentice sat steadfastly in place, the vehicle moving beneath them while they remained still, their hand signs unchanged, their recitation unwavering.

“Master Zhou, the wreaths beside you are for a grand funeral. I calculated that you have a major burial today, so I prepared this whole set for you overnight,” Hong Kun continued, clearly trying to distract Zhou Huan.

Zhou Huan naturally showed no fear: “Oh, then I thank Master Hong very much. It seems I truly cannot disappoint your good intentions today.” At this point, Zhou Huan confirmed his suspicion: this fellow named Hong Kun was here to challenge him. Zhou Huan’s reputation was only just beginning to rise locally, and now running into such a troublemaker made the path ahead exceptionally arduous.

“Master Zhou, could you please help me arrange the joss paper in the back? I didn’t have time to do it last night at the motel,” Hong Kun didn’t give Zhou Huan any time to recover, and his tone had become bluntly direct—it was obvious he intended to compete fiercely with Zhou Huan.

Zhou Huan flashed a grin and shook his head: “These are minor matters. Later, I’m afraid I will have to ask Master Hong for more help with the main task.”

“Haha, Master Zhou is joking. I, Hong Kun, never ask for help unless I must ask my own master for guidance. But regarding today’s task, rest assured, Master Zhou, I will help you secure this job’s earnings. Just focus on arranging the paper,” Hong Kun said, watching Zhou Huan through the rearview mirror. Zhou Huan was meticulously stacking the joss paper, and to Hong Kun’s view, he appeared completely unaffected by the array, stacking every bundle perfectly.

Hong Kun’s heart jolted. This Zhou Huan truly possessed remarkable composure. To endure such torment and still maintain such a calm state was beyond the capability of an ordinary practitioner—it required the mastery of a Grand Master to achieve such imperturbability.

And beside him, Li Tianxiong, though appearing arrogant, remained completely motionless as Zhou Huan had instructed him not to move—this itself revealed a profound level of personal cultivation.

At this moment, the smile vanished from Hong Kun’s face. He deeply felt that his actions had perhaps been excessive. Treating a master of such high virtue and skill in this manner felt petty. Hong Kun slowed the car gradually, eventually pulling over to the side of the road.

Hong Kun got out and opened the rear door: “Master Zhou, please come sit in the front. These tasks should have been mine to do. I merely wanted to observe the conduct of you, Zhou Huan, and indeed, your reputation is well-deserved. No matter the profession, virtue must come first. I, Hong, have acted improperly; I ask for your forgiveness, Master Zhou.”

“Not at all. Arranging paper is part of the daily work for us Funeral Masters. Besides, we benefited from your ride; we can’t just sit here for nothing!” Zhou Huan became even more courteous, which made Hong Kun’s face flush deep red.

Li Tianxiong seized the opportunity to jump out of the car: “Master, let’s get out of the back. Sitting back here is uncomfortable no matter what. We should let Master Hong clear out the back and make room for us.” Li Tianxiong was inherently sharp-witted, and at this point, he didn't want to endure the constant drain on his energy in that formation; he suspected he wouldn't have the strength left for the job if they didn't arrive soon.

Zhou Huan looked at Hong Kun, then at Li Tianxiong, and gave a faint smile: “That is fine as well. We should conserve our strength; handling the matter ahead is more important. We certainly can’t let Master Hong travel all this way just to help us out for nothing.”

As Zhou Huan spoke, he put down the joss paper he was handling. In the time it took to say those words, Hong Kun clearly saw Zhou Huan completely stack all the joss paper in the car, leaving only the loose paper meant for wandering spirits.

Zhou Huan slowly slid into the front passenger seat, while Li Tianxiong took a deep breath and jumped into the middle row.

Hong Kun gently pushed aside a space between the wreaths, making the two wreaths face each other, before closing the rear door.

“Master Hong, don’t lock the back door. It will be convenient for taking things out later. Otherwise, what if a ghost tries to steal the car when we arrive?” Zhou Huan’s comment seemed absurd—a car full of Funeral Masters, yet worrying about ghosts stealing the vehicle.

Hong Kun lost his usual smile and replied with utmost respect: “Master Zhou, I understand that point. I thank Master Zhou for the reminder!”

Following this, Hong Kun drove on. In less than half an hour, he dropped Zhou Huan and Li Tianxiong off downstairs at the client’s residence.

“Master Hong, would you like to come up with us?” Zhou Huan asked tentatively.

Li Tianxiong shouldered the equipment bag for Zhou Huan, and they headed towards the client’s floor. This client lived on the twenty-third floor of a thirty-story building.

This group had indeed arrived at an inconvenient time; the elevator in this building was broken. With no other choice, the four of them had to climb the stairs. By the time they reached the twentieth floor, Hong Kun was lagging far behind; Li Tianxiong stopped after one more flight, breathing heavily. Only Zhou Huan, his expression unchanged and his breathing steady, quickly ascended two flights, rushing to the twenty-third floor. As he approached the landing, Zhou Huan was not startled.

A man, appearing to be around fifty years old, was framed in a black and white photograph, which was hung directly above several small altars dedicated to deities placed outside the doorway—this large portrait was conspicuously suspended right at the main entrance.

“Is anyone home?” Zhou Huan did not shout but asked quietly.

An elderly woman slowly emerged from the room, leaning on a cane made of green rattan, tears of sorrow streaming from her eyes: “Master Zhou, you have finally arrived. My home… sob!” At this, the old woman was rendered speechless by grief.

“Auntie, please accept my condolences. Don't cry yet. First, tell me exactly what happened, and then I will help you settle your family’s affairs!” Zhou Huan quickly stepped forward to support the elderly woman, then gestured for Li Tianxiong, and the two helped the old lady to a rocking chair in the inner room.

Hong Kun was the last to arrive, trailing behind Zhou Huan, slowly creeping into the room.

Zhou Huan surveyed the interior environment. The space was not large, but this old-style house could easily accommodate two families. The walls were covered in markings from the deceased's family—white paper and black draperies.

“Auntie, who passed away in your family…?” Zhou Huan asked gently.

The old woman symbolically wiped the tears from her eyes, then leaned against the wall, sitting on the edge of the bed: “Alas, it was my grandson who passed. He had only just turned thirty!”

“What?” This unexpected answer shocked Zhou Huan, Hong Kun, and Li Tianxiong alike. Could this supernatural event truly involve something deeper?

Zhou Huan steadied his nerves and asked the old woman, “Elderly one, where is your grandson’s body? May I see it? Also, can you tell me everything you know? I need to understand the cause of your grandson’s death. If you don't know, then I will need to help you investigate.”

The old woman’s face instantly shifted from grief to stern gravity, and her tone became quite severe: “What? Are you worried I can’t pay you?” The old woman pulled a necklace from her neck. This piece was clearly made of pure gold, and each link was as thick as a finger; moreover, every gold segment was inlaid with a soybean-sized diamond, and each diamond radiated a very natural, intense crimson light.

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