's... a place where people are turned into food... Look, that millstone is used to grind human flesh into mincemeat, and this huge mortar is where they dismember bodies and stuff them in, crushing the...Our neighborhood is a commercial and cultural district. In simple terms, it's a street area that the city has created to foster a cultural and artistic atmosphere.

The houses all have a similar old-fashioned style, with steps leading up to the front doors and wide sidewalks below. They were renovated last year, and flower beds line the sides of the sidewalks, separating them from the road. It feels like there's a small garden at each doorstep. My dad secretly uprooted all those strange flowers in the flower bed by the door and planted some ornamental dwarf pines instead.

Although I tried my best to dissuade him, the middle-aged man's love for tending flowers was overwhelming.

Neighbors also followed suit, learning from each other. Since business owners are particularly concerned about the storefront environment, their own cultivated flowers looked much better than the standardized landscaping. Walking down the street, it seemed quite old-fashioned and quaint. So people turned a blind eye to some of the irregularities.

This transformed the originally spacious and bright courtyard into a lush, grand estate style.

Although the atmosphere has improved, the lighting in the noodle stall on the first floor is a bit dim...

At this moment, someone was standing in front of the shop. Their presence was so low-key that I didn't even notice them. The person just stood quietly on the steps, with a backdrop of lush greenery.

Maybe it was an instinctive reaction after having a child, I suddenly realized someone was there. The conditioned reflex was to pull them close and shield them behind me.

With the phone and small toy she was holding slipping from her grasp, I pulled her behind me. Just as she was about to pout in protest, she saw my wary expression and dared not speak. She obediently hugged my legs and hid behind me, peeking out at the situation with wide eyes.

"Who is it Who are you looking for" I asked warily.

I had never seen the man at the door before. He was tall and lanky, wearing trousers and a long windbreaker, with a hat similar to a formal top hat on his head.

It's rare to see men dressed like this in China, and despite his striking appearance, he has a low-key aura, almost like an ordinary passerby.

He stood in the shadow beneath the eaves, and the surroundings seemed to become hushed and gray.

This feeling of being watched sent shivers down my spine, and I was even about to silently recite a Buddhist prayer for help from Jiang Qiyun.

To everyone's surprise, the man suddenly spoke, his voice low and chillingly clear: “ … Look.”

Have a look

I didn't react immediately.

Mr. Chen heard the noise and hurriedly walked out from behind the counter, took a sip of tea from his teapot, wiped his mouth, and said, "What would you like to see"

Are you a guest

My family's business is just "small-scale retail," and when you open a shop, of course you have to be polite to customers. However, we also have taboos, namely that we can't casually "invite" customers in.

This is what I recently told Old Chen, after seeing those ghosts and spirits freely running wild when they were "invited" inside. I also want to be wary of some things getting close to my house.

Old Chen stood inside the shop, while that man remained on the steps below. Old Chen was three levels higher than him, yet I felt as if that man was still looking down at us with an air of superiority.

This circle is full of familiar faces, and rumors spread like wildfire. Perhaps in some unknown corner, someone wants to commission us for something but finds it hard to approach because they don't know us well. Could this man be one such person

"What would you like to see" Old Chen bowed politely.

That man stood in the shadow of the eaves, half his face hidden under the brim of his hat. He raised his hand and slightly lowered his hat, saying coldly: "Since you are a weak child, don't come in."

"Huh Both Chen Lao and I were taken aback."

The man turned and sauntered away, disappearing around the corner in a jiffy.

"Old Man Chen climbed the door frame until he couldn't see anyone, then turned back and said, 'What kind of people are these days So fussy... Won't a ghost appear under the sun'"

"Haven't we seen enough ghosts Is it even possible to tell human from spirit anymore" I glared at him.

Although Old Chen was just a half-baked martial arts charlatan, he was over fifty years old and had seen many things. He stroked his small mustache and said: "No no, Miss, this man is definitely not simple... Look at his attire, he doesn't look like a modern person, rather like a wealthy young master from the Republic of China period."

Upon hearing Old Chen's words, it does seem quite plausible. It's just that he isn't wearing a cotton-padded long coat.

"And as an old man who has seen so many people, at a glance, this person is not an ordinary person. This kind of temperament cannot be pretended... definitely has an extraordinary background."

Old Chen, drawing on his years of experience observing people, remarked: "He could have left without a word, but he didn't. He answered your questions. This shows basic social etiquette and that even if he were simply bored, he wouldn't cause too much trouble for others... Moreover, the reason he left was because you are the only one in charge at home, a weak woman with a child. He chose not to come in and stir up unnecessary gossip. In this day and age, who is so particular about etiquette"

"Alright, alright, your analysis is making me even more curious." I interrupted Old Chen with a smile.

Old Man Chen puffed out his chest and snorted, "Let me tell you, Miss, this man is definitely no ordinary person! And he's definitely coming back. Let's wait for the young master to return and then deal with him."

Our house is so deserted, not only because we're too busy to engage in shady dealings, but also because we have children.

Although it's open for business every day, the entrance is now surrounded by a small child safety fence. Customers have to open the fence to enter, and casual browsers generally won't even come in.

At this rate, we'll have to close up shop and just use our house as a residence.

But if we close up shop, Dad and Old Ma wouldn't be happy about it. After all, they've grown accustomed to this way of life – the front yard open for business, the backyard for lounging in the sun. They've been doing this for many years now.

So now, sweeping and cleaning the entrance every day feels more like a continuation of a daily routine than for the sake of money.

This mysterious man just glided past our house, leaving me with a sense of confusion. Yet, when facing Jiang Qiyun, I couldn't bring myself to offer any more details.

"What does he look like" Jiang Qiyun asked.

I couldn't quite make out his face, but I knew he was tall and slender.

Jiang Qiyun looked at me with a hint of amusement: "Mu Xia Qiao, your descriptions of men only know tall and short, fat and thin"

Well, I only know about height, weight, and build.

"That... there's something, I want to ask you a favor..." I said softly.

"Said."

I tactfully explained to him that my brother had learned quite a bit from the monk Huqing, including rumors of a Six-Pole Ghost Weapon being in the possession of the Mu family.

To be honest, ever since I got involved with the world of yin and yang three or four years ago, I never really thought about how my great-grandmother could preserve her appearance and mannerisms from life so perfectly.

Jiang Qiyun also said that the Soul Tower in Taigong's hands was a magic weapon that flowed out from the underworld.

The Sixiang Ghost Device is insignificant to the Underworld, as any Yinchai can summon souls. However, for mortals, it's a treasure that penetrates yin and yang.

I now want to use the Six Realms Ghostly Device to attract souls and awaken Lin Yanhuan and Chen Yan. If Grandpa lends out the Soul Pagoda, then Grandma's vengeful spirit will inevitably have nowhere to reside.

"Could you please spare my grandmother for now Let her and the other two continue to live a peaceful life" I whispered.

Jiang Qiyun frowned slightly, as if he didn't want to use the power of the Underworld Emperor for these "trivial matters."

I wouldn't dare keep begging him for mercy, he knows how to handle things.

He looked at me and chuckled softly, "Seeing you so anxious, how could I refuse As I said, when one person ascends to heaven, all connected benefit. The gods of the underworld naturally wouldn't deliberately target Lady Xia's home to collect souls. However, your great-grandmother is also a spirit who has been dead for many years. It is uncertain whether she might attract some mountain spirits, tree goblins, or demons… You handle it yourself."

He paused, frowning slightly: "You've really put a lot of effort into that man."

Well That tone suddenly seems a bit odd...." I was completely dumbfounded. What's going on"Why is there such a heavy feeling of evil between your brows Did you run into someone" He reached out and pressed his hand against my forehead.I random...