Chapter 346: The End (5)
The final episode of the show arrived as scheduled.
Although all the guests had returned to their work and careers after leaving the sanatorium, they still made time in their hectic schedules to gather at the small courtyard in the old part of Binhai City on the day of filming.
To them, this wasn’t work at all—it felt more like a stolen moment of leisure, a casual get-together among friends.
An Nanyuan had just finished a business negotiation. He hadn’t slept properly for several days, and as soon as he stepped out of the office building, he was so sleepy that he couldn’t stop yawning.
His new manager asked with concern, “If you’re really exhausted, how about you rest for a while today and go to the shoot a bit later? Get some sleep first.”
An Nanyuan waved his hand and replied with rabbit-like eyes, “No need, don’t worry. There won’t be any outsiders at the shoot. Sleeping at Brother Yan’s house is just the same.”
“If I end up being late after finally clearing out some time, the others will definitely tease me—especially that Xingxing.”
Just thinking of Lu Xingxing and the others made it impossible for An Nanyuan to suppress his smile.
Lu Xingxing had only just recovered a few days ago, yet he already acted like he’d forgotten the pain after the wound had healed. He had regained all his boundless energy, bouncing around and making sure everyone knew he was back. He made himself familiar to everyone he met.
Because his condition had previously been uncertain, it was already a miracle that he survived. No one expected him to work again anytime soon. As a result, he was the most carefree one during the New Year period. Apart from helping out a bit at Haiyun Temple, he had nothing else on his plate.
Even so, the Taoists at Haiyun Temple, though they never said it out loud, secretly felt sorry for him and didn’t let him do much. He actually had fewer tasks than even the young acolytes.
And so, under the guise of recovery but in reality having a blast, Lu Xingxing went around visiting all his friends’ workplaces. He’d visited everyone—Bai Shuang, An Nanyuan, and the rest—and quickly built great rapport with their colleagues. It only took him five minutes to go from a stranger to a buddy with arms slung over shoulders.
Many directors and crew members praised Lu Xingxing to the skies. Even though Lu Xingxing himself didn’t think much of it, the directors still promised that if there was ever a chance, they had to work with him.
His natural ease in social settings was so extreme it could only be described as being a walking, talking social robot. His friends were all left dumbfounded.
Bai Shuang even sincerely suggested that if Lu Xingxing ever didn’t want to be a musician anymore, he could totally become a talent manager.
“Xingxing, have you ever considered that maybe your real talent isn’t in cultivation or music,”
Bai Shuang said earnestly, “but in socializing?”
This was absolutely the level of a social menace!
No one could resist a guy who was handsome, wild, and fun—like a human husky! No one!
Bai Shuang screamed internally.
Heaven knows! Ever since Lu Xingxing had come to visit her on set, she didn’t even have to fetch her own coffee, hot water, or box lunch anymore—they were all brought to her, piping hot, and she no longer had to worry about eating cold food in the winter.
The crew even thoughtfully gave her a small heater, smiling as they said that Lu Xingxing had specially asked them to take care of her, saying that Bai Shuang was a girl and sensitive to cold, so she needed looking after.
When Bai Shuang heard this, she felt like running over and hugging Lu Xingxing while crying her eyes out.
Lu Xingxing had no idea what was going through Bai Shuang’s mind. To him, it was just something completely normal—someone had a heater, someone needed warmth, so just say something. What harm was there in a few words?
After hearing Bai Shuang’s suggestion, he rubbed his chin and thought for a while before replying, “I don’t think I’m really suited to be a talent manager?”
Bai Shuang was confused. “Huh? You’re actually taking this seriously?”
Here is the complete and natural English translation of the passage, with all paragraphs intact and translated into the past tense while maintaining the original tone and content:
Lu Xingxing nodded slightly. “After all, no celebrity wants their agent to be more handsome and more charming than they are, right?”
Bai Shuang: “…………”
Alright, it was still the same old Lu Xingxing she knew—hadn’t changed one bit.
Since Lu Xingxing had a relatively freer schedule, she took the initiative to help pick up their friends. She followed the production crew’s car and went around to each guest’s current workplace.
The moment An Nanyuan got in the car, he spotted Bai Shuang lazily curled up, munching on snacks. His face lit up with surprise as he threw open his arms for a big hug. Then he turned and gave Lu Xingxing a tight squeeze as well.
Bai Shuang was still wearing her large dress, which she hadn’t had time to change out of. Her makeup was immaculate, and her hair was clearly freshly styled—she looked like she had just finished the final rehearsal.
But in front of her friends, she completely let loose. Unlike her usual formal self on camera, here she was all giggles and goofiness, acting just like someone hanging out at home with close buddies—without a care in the world about appearances.
An Nanyuan was also dressed in a sequin-covered suit, hair styled to perfection. With the polished look of a boy band idol, no stranger would have guessed that, when faced with ghosts before, he had once sobbed with snot and tears streaming down his face.
Since all the guests were wrapping up their year-end work in Binhai City, the director specially planned a route so that the car could swing by and pick up each person one by one. Then they headed straight for the old district of Binhai City.
When they went to get Song Ci, he was in the middle of an argument with his older brother downstairs at the company building.
—Well, more like a one-sided scolding.
Song Ci was so furious that he looked like a fluffed-up ragdoll cat meowing in rage. He kept jabbing his finger into his brother’s chest, making his brother wince in pain but not dare to dodge, just repeatedly begging for mercy and promising to change his plans.
Everyone sitting in the car marveled at the scene. “Who would’ve thought the young master and his big brother got along like that?”
Most people had assumed that the Song family spoiled the little master like a baby and handed all the authority to the older brother. But it turned out, not only was the young master treated like a treasure by the entire family, even in the company he held significant influence.
“Song Ci’s probably just not interested in it,”
Zhang Wubing looked out the window and said knowingly, “He’s not like me. He doesn’t have dreams. He just lives like a lazy little pig.”
Since they were in the same industry—and because Song Ci had been jealous of his ghost-sensitive physique for years—Zhang Wubing knew him pretty well and was also well-informed about the Song family.
“Even though I don’t like Song Ci—he’s always targeting me—I’ve got to be fair. He really is impressive.”
Zhang Wubing recalled their college days and nodded. “I don’t know why, but Song Ci has always liked supernatural stuff. The more dangerous, the more he likes it. Back in school, he used to skip classes just to go explore haunted houses. But even with that, whenever he took exams, he’d still score almost perfectly every time.”
As soon as Zhang Wubing said this, the car fell silent. The cheerful expressions on the other guests’ faces dimmed slightly.
Except for Zhang Wubing, all of them knew why Song Ci was so drawn to ghosts—it was for Xie Lin.
But Zhang Wubing had no memory of what happened after entering the Southwest and had no idea about Xie Lin’s death or the other related events.
They’d all been told by Yan Shixun not to bring it up. Though they didn’t know the exact reason for Zhang Wubing’s memory loss, they did know he had lost his memories to save everyone.
So when he mentioned it now, he didn’t think anything of it, but the others couldn’t help but feel a dull ache in their chests. Their gazes toward Zhang Wubing were filled with gratitude and admiration.
“Besides, a lot of the Song family’s business ventures were decided by him. His business instincts—among everyone I know—only my dad can match him.”
“But the thing about him…”
Zhang Wubing paused, a complicated look in his eyes. “He’s lazy. Really lazy. Like that kind of little pig with no dreams—just doesn’t care about anything.”
Just as the words left his mouth, Zhang Wubing suddenly felt a chill, and the car seemed a bit too quiet.
He tugged his clothes tighter and glanced around, confused—only to see the other guests sitting stiffly, eyes lowered in silence.
And outside the car stood a slender figure, quietly by the door.
Zhang Wubing: “…………”
So this is what it feels like when you’re badmouthing someone and they catch you red-handed—QAQ.
“Song Ci, listen, I can explain.”
Zhang Wubing frantically reached out to Song Ci, desperately trying to salvage their newly warmed-up relationship.
Song Ci crossed his arms and gave a cold snort, then stomped up the steps into the car in his heavy Martin boots—each step landing squarely on Zhang Wubing’s anxious heart.
“Zhang Dabing, what exactly are you trying to explain?”
He rolled his eyes. “Just lie flat and don’t bother using your brain. Trust me, whenever something requires thinking, give up immediately and go find Brother Yan. That would be more effective.”
Zhang Wubing replied, “…I have a feeling you just called me stupid.”
The young master responded, “Oh, you misheard.”
Zhang Wubing: “??? Excuse me, did you learn this dismissive attitude from Brother Yan?”
When it came to matters involving Yan Shixun, Zhang Wubing was exceptionally sharp, always worried someone might steal away his precious connection.
He gave Song Ci a once-over and immediately sensed something was off. Pointing at Song Ci’s Martin boots, he asked, deeply hurt and disbelieving, “Even this? You copied Brother Yan’s style?”
The young master sneered. “Ever heard of idol merchandise? Brother Yan and I are wearing the same style. So what? If you have a problem with that, go home and beg your dad to buy the whole brand.”
That day, the young master was dressed in sharp pants and boots, paired with a French lace-collared puff-sleeve shirt. With the Martin boots, his slim waist and long legs were even more pronounced. He looked like a bad-tempered elf who had snuck out of the forest—or like a delicate little French prince.
He didn’t bother sitting down, just stood there with his arms crossed, firing off verbal jabs at Zhang Wubing, each one sharper than the last, leaving Zhang Wubing on the verge of tears.
Zhang Wubing: What did I do in a past life to deserve this?
“But I heard your dad finally lifted the ban on you?”
The young master sized Zhang Wubing up and down, then said, “When you first started your show, the Zhang family informed all entertainment companies not to help you. They wanted you to hit a wall and give up on your own. I have to admit, I misjudged you too—I didn’t expect your show to actually become popular.”
Zhang Wubing proudly puffed out his chest. “Of course! Do you know who I am? I’m a rising star in the director world!”
“Rising star? More like Pluto—cold as hell.”
The young master sneered, instantly deflating Zhang Wubing’s ego.
“But recently, the Zhang family contacted the entertainment companies again and officially said they’d support the young master’s dreams. They want you to go into filmmaking and asked everyone to help out when they can.”
The young master raised an eyebrow. “How did you convince your dad to change his mind? He’s notoriously stubborn.”
Zhang Wubing’s face twisted with displeasure. He growled, “Pah! Who needs him? I can make something of myself on my own!”
Afraid Song Ci wouldn’t believe him, he quickly added, “Seriously! I already met with Director Li Xuetang. He promised that after the New Year, I could join the crew as an intern director and learn from him.”
“I think if I study for a few years, I can become a great director like him.”
Zhang Wubing clenched his fist with conviction.
But Song Ci simply chuckled coldly. “Are you sure you won’t turn Director Li’s movie into a horror film? If you said you wanted to be the greatest horror movie director, then maybe I’d believe it.”
The people in the car burst out laughing.
Zhang Wubing’s eyes welled up with tears as he tried to argue back, but after struggling for words, he actually started thinking Song Ci had a point.
Song Ci: “…”
This is why I hate arguing with idiots—mid-fight, they suddenly agree with you. What am I supposed to do with that???
When someone asked if he was in a fight with his older brother, Song Ci leaned on one hand lazily and said, “Nope. Just giving an idiot a lesson, that’s all.”
Everyone: …So the heir of the mighty Song family—the fierce, decisive business prodigy—is considered an idiot in the young master’s eyes?
Zhang Wubing silently mouthed: I think the only person he doesn’t consider an idiot… is probably Brother Yan?
Everyone: Ohhh, now it all makes sense. Yeah, we’re definitely the idiot category.
The young master didn’t notice their exchanged glances. He sat by the window, the winter sunlight spilling down on him like golden powder dusted over his delicate, pale features. He looked dreamlike—too beautiful to be real.
“My idiot brother wants to cover up Xie Lin’s death and handle it quietly so the media won’t bother him.”
The young master scoffed, full of disdain. “What kind of moron walks away from money sitting right there?”
Zhang Wubing: “Huh??? Xie Lin died? When did that happen?”
Everyone: “What?!”
They all stared blankly at Song Ci, not because of Xie Lin’s death, but because of how calmly Song Ci talked about it.
For years, Song Ci’s protectiveness toward Xie Lin had been real. When he first heard about Xie Lin’s death at Baizhi Lake, he had been devastated, refusing to believe it.
But now, he not only said Xie Lin’s name without a hint of emotion, he even implied he wasn’t going to give him a secret, quiet burial.
This wasn’t the young master they used to know.
Song Ci glanced at their stunned faces and said, “Xie Lin didn’t treat me right. Even when he died, he didn’t think of me. Why should I consider his feelings? The Song family fed and clothed him for over ten years, and he died without earning us a cent. That investment has to be recouped.”
“I plan to have Song Corp host a grand memorial, glorify his death, and put him on a pedestal.”
His eyes were cold as ice. “Then I’ll use the divine image I give him after death—to make money for me.”
Everyone instinctively shrank back. They finally believed what Zhang Wubing had said about the young master’s ruthless business instincts.
When Song Ci cared about someone, he gave everything—his heart, his soul, his entire fortune, if needed.
But the moment someone disappointed him or betrayed him, he could cut ties instantly and handle things with cold, unfeeling, profit-first logic.
Before anyone could let fear settle in, Song Ci turned to Zhao Zhen and asked, “Zhao Zhen, didn’t a lead actor deliberately make things difficult for you during a martial arts shoot? I remember back in Family Tomb Village, you said you had a back injury—something about a bad fall while being suspended for a wire stunt?”
Zhao Zhen was momentarily stunned, then slowly nodded.
He hadn’t expected Song Ci to remember such an offhand comment.
Before the others could figure out what he was getting at, Song Ci casually said, “I got revenge for you. You can tell your spine it can rest in peace now.”
“…”
Zhao Zhen stared at him in disbelief, then burst into laughter, eyes twinkling with amusement. “What did you do to him?”
“Nothing much.”
Song Ci leaned his head on his hand, looking sleep-deprived. “His new drama was part of a prestige series funded by Song Corp. He had the nerve to slack off, saying he couldn’t handle wire stunts because they’d chafe his skin—when you managed them just fine? Hah.”
The young master gave a cold smile. “So I spent a fortune hiring a martial arts coach to hang him up for hours. If he didn’t learn the move, he didn’t get to eat.”
Everyone: “!!!”
“And you too, An Nanyuan—”
The young master looked at An Nanyuan with disdain and said, “Why haven’t you settled that mess with Yaxing Entertainment yet? Are you eating for nothing?”
Even though he already had his own independent studio, An Nanyuan still felt the same fear he used to feel when getting scolded by a superior. He instinctively sat upright and nodded obediently, ready to explain himself. “There are reasons for that… Yaxing Entertainment is the industry leader after all…”
“Industry leader? Not anymore by next year.”
The young master yawned, his eyes watery from drowsiness. “Coincidentally, the Song Corporation has a project in partnership with Yaxing Entertainment. I went ahead and bought you out. Yaxing agreed to drop everything, and they won’t bother you anymore.”
An Nanyuan was left dumbfounded.
“Then won’t you smile for me?”
The young master looked at An Nanyuan, puzzled by his lack of reaction. “Don’t you like your New Year’s gift?”
“No, no, I love it! Thank you, Song Ci!”
An Nanyuan quickly waved his hands, his expression full of emotion, looking like he was about to cry. “I’ll never forget who helped me when I was in need. Song Ci, no matter what you need in the future, I’ll definitely help you!”
Seeing An Nanyuan’s red-rimmed eyes, the young master immediately became wary and took a step back. “Wait! Don’t you dare pounce on me, and don’t even think about wiping your tears on me!”
An Nanyuan paused, but then—despite not having that intention before—he suddenly let out a cheer and lunged forward, throwing his arms around the young master in a bear hug. He wrapped his arms around the boy’s slender waist and started rubbing his tears all over him.
The young master roared in outrage, but the car was soon filled with laughter that came in waves, never stopping.
Song Ci truly saw the guests as his companions. After all, it was rare in life to have friends with whom you’d shared life-and-death experiences. They had entrusted their lives and backs to each other, survived together, and would never harm one another.
He had thoughtfully prepared a personalized New Year’s gift for each of them. When everyone heard what their gift was, without exception, their eyes turned red.
Even the most composed of them all—the middle-aged, chubby variety show star—broke down in sobs, saying that only Song Ci and his parents had ever treated him this well.
This scene nearly drove the young master mad, as he had never been fond of such sentimental moments. He kept telling everyone to stop crying.
But everyone could see that the young master was cold on the outside but warm on the inside. One after another, they laughed and pounced on him, quickly ruffling his hair until he looked like a fluffy, riled-up ragdoll cat.
By the time the car stopped in front of Yan Shixun’s courtyard, he had timed it perfectly, stepping out precisely the moment the vehicle arrived—down to the second.
What he saw the moment the car door opened was the young master bolting out like a maniac.
However, the moment Yan Shixun got a clear look at him, he raised his eyebrows in surprise.
Song Ci had always held very high standards for his quality of life and was even stricter with his own appearance. He would never allow himself to go out looking disheveled or unkempt.
But now…
The hairstyle Song Ci had meticulously styled just for meeting the respected Brother Yan had now turned into a fuzzy mess, resembling a fluffy cat’s fur. A few soft curls playfully rested on his forehead, and one side of the drawstring at his shirt collar had come loose, leaving the shirt hanging loosely over his pale, delicate shoulder. His expression was one of furious frustration, looking just like a ragdoll cat that had been teased to the point of meowing from sheer cuteness.
“These idiots! I told them not to wipe their tears on my clothes, but they just wouldn’t listen. Ugh! I’m so mad I could explode!”
Song Ci was just about to complain further when he noticed all the gazes converging in one direction.
He paused, followed their line of sight, and saw the figure he had missed earlier in his anger—Yan Shixun. At once, his expression lit up with joy. “Brother Yan!”
“It’s been weeks since we last saw each other. Don’t you have a welcome speech prepared for me?”
The young master proudly raised his chin like a kitten expecting to be scratched under the chin.
But worried that Yan Shixun might not be happy to see him, he quickly added, “I’ve been looking forward to this gathering for weeks—especially to seeing you, Brother Yan.”
Yan Shixun shook his head and chuckled softly. “What should I say? Happy New Year?”
He reached out and smoothed down Song Ci’s frizzy hair, then patted him on the shoulder. His deep, magnetic voice carried a subtle rhythm. “I wish you peace and smooth sailing in the new year.”
“This is a blessing from the Great Dao.”
Song Ci’s eyes widened in astonishment.
After speaking, Yan Shixun straightened up and looked at the others still in the vehicle. “What’s the holdup? Aren’t you coming? Blocking the entrance like that—aren’t you worried the neighbors will file complaints? Don’t you know the roads in the old district are narrow?”
Hearing this, everyone obediently got out of the car.
But even after the driver drove the car away, they all crowded at the entrance, unwilling to go inside. They stared longingly at Yan Shixun, clearly waiting for something.
Yan Shixun laughed. “You want blessings too?”
“Yes!”
An Nanyuan’s eyes sparkled. “This is a divine blessing—way more effective than burning incense at a Taoist temple!”
No one knew that Yan Shixun had already undertaken the responsibility of the Great Dao. From their understanding, they simply assumed that all the lightning and thunder back in Jiangbei must have meant Yan Shixun had ascended on the spot and become a deity.
Yan Shixun didn’t quite know how to explain the difference to them, and every time someone brought it up, they would shoot him a look as if to say, “I get it, don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone.”
The two sides were essentially talking about completely different things—like one talking about a front gate and the other about a hip joint—but by some strange coincidence, they somehow ended up on the same topic.
Both sides thought the other understood what was meant, and everyone seemed very pleased with that.
At that moment, with everyone looking at Yan Shixun so pitifully, he suddenly felt like he was Santa Claus handing out toys at the front door.
But he had already given a blessing to Song Ci. If he didn’t give one to the others, it would seem a bit unfair.
Yan Shixun helplessly shrugged, but decided to grant this small wish of theirs. After all, this was exactly what he had hoped for—
He wished for all living beings to be happy and safe.
The satisfied crowd finally entered the small courtyard.
Yan Shixun shook his head and whispered to Ye Li with a sigh, “I used to say that Xiao Bao was a walking blessing machine. I guess I shouldn’t have said that so lightly—today it’s my turn.”
Ye Li chuckled and shook his head. While everyone was walking ahead and no one was looking back, he stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Yan Shixun’s waist, planting a kiss on his forehead.
“If all the little ones get one, then my Shixun has to get one too, right?”
Ye Li chuckled softly and said gently, “Then may my Shixun always be one with the Great Dao.”
Yan Shixun: “…………”
“I wasn’t thinking that! Do you think I’m five years old?”
Yan Shixun smacked Ye Li’s chest with his hand and pushed him away slightly. “Stay away from me! I wasn’t acting cute toward you, okay?”
Ye Li spread his hands, smiling all the while. “To me, as long as you’re by my side, Shixun, you’re already being adorable. You don’t need to do anything else.”
Just then, several people exclaimed in awe as they looked at the courtyard.
“Brother Yan’s courtyard…”
An Nanyuan looked around in a daze, practically drooling with envy. “This is amazing! It’s like a dream garden! What do you call this? Living the good life.”
Winter was supposed to be a season when all the flowers and trees withered, but because of the special identity of the resident, the courtyard had taken on an entirely different scene.
Plum blossoms and early cherry blossoms were in full bloom, vines lush and green, decorating the yard and making it look like a paradise cut off from the world. The sun, moon, and stars followed a different cycle here, making it feel like a bright spring day.
At the stone table in the courtyard sat Jing Xiaobao, swinging his two chubby legs and resting his cheeks in his hands with a troubled expression. He looked down gloomily at the open book in front of him, sighing endlessly as he struggled to study.
Next to Jing Xiaobao lay a sunbathing husky. Its silver-gray fur shimmered under the sunlight. Every now and then, it lazily swished its fluffy tail, swatting away Xiaobao’s hand whenever he tried to tug on its fur.
Another husky curled up by the doorway, looking for all the world like a retired old man taking his pet bird for a stroll.
—And perched proudly between its upright ears stood a small bird, chest puffed out like a general.
An Nanyuan kept exclaiming in amazement, declaring this to be his dream lifestyle.
“But Brother Yan, when did you start raising huskies? They’re so beautiful!”
Lu Xingxing looked curious, but his eyes sparkled as he gazed at the “huskies,” like he wanted to steal one and bring it home.
The others: “…………”
They glanced at the split-screen camera currently live-streaming, then looked at the giddy, clueless Lu Xingxing, shook their heads, and sighed. They weren’t about to explain anything.
They couldn’t very well say “that’s a wolf” in front of a camera, right?
Lu Xingxing didn’t know what had happened in Jiangbei. He’d only just recovered recently, and this was the first time he’d visited Yan Shixun’s home since waking up. He had no idea Yan Shixun had brought back two majestic wild wolves from Jiangbei.
Excitedly, he rushed forward and buried his face in the “husky’s” thick fur, rubbing it with pure joy, practically sighing with happiness.
“This husky is just too cool, Brother Yan! How about we make a deal? You’ve got two anyway—can you give me one?”
The head wolf, calm and steady, swished its tail. Though it found this young pup annoying, it didn’t drive him away. On the contrary, Lu Xingxing, with his joy and energy, looked more like a happy-go-lucky husky than the wolf did.
Hearing this, Yan Shixun, who had been leading the guests toward the house, suddenly stopped in his tracks. He turned around, towering over the crouching Lu Xingxing, and snorted, “Ask it yourself if it wants to go. If it agrees, you can take it.”
“Brother Yan, you said it! No take-backs!”
Lu Xingxing excitedly petted the “husky,” already fantasizing about a future of endless cuddles and affection.
Yan Shixun replied with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes, “Mm, I said it.”
Those in the know looked at Lu Xingxing with pity: Poor guy didn’t even know he was calling a wolf a husky…
But Lu Xingxing had already started thinking up names for the head wolf.
“It already has a name.”
Jing Xiaobao, still trying to study, puffed up his cheeks in annoyance. “It doesn’t need a name from anyone else.”
Lu Xingxing quickly asked, “Then what’s its name? Lightning? Red Hare? Thunderclap?”
Jing Xiaobao: …What kind of nonsense names are those?
“Its name is Woof-Woof.”
Jing Xiaobao pointed loudly at the head wolf and said, “It’s called Woof-Woof. That one over there is Doggie.”
Lu Xingxing: “…………”
“What kind of naming style is that…”
He looked at Jing Xiaobao with a complicated expression. “Did you inherit Brother Yan’s terrible naming sense or are you competing with Zhang Wubing’s household for worst names?”
Woof-Woof and Doggie? What bizarre names!
Would he have to run through the streets yelling “Woof! Woof!” if the dog ever got lost?
Even Lu Xingxing found the names a bit outrageous.
But Jing Xiaobao, sitting upright on the stone stool with an air of maturity, carried the solemn dignity of the King of Hell himself.
He looked down and asked Lu Xingxing seriously, “Then what name would you give it?”
Lu Xingxing rubbed his chin and thought for a moment, then said excitedly, “How about Xingxing? That’s a nice name, right?”
Jing Xiaobao: ??? I think your name is even worse than mine. Who names a wolf after themselves?
“No way. ‘Xingxing’ sounds bad.”
“How is that bad?! My name is Xingxing—I think it sounds great!”
“Exactly because it’s your name, that’s why it sounds bad.”
“Xiao Bao! Argh!!! You’re bullying me! I’m telling Brother Yan!”
…
In the courtyard, Jing Xiaobao and Lu Xingxing quickly started wrestling into a noisy mess.
The lead wolf irritably swished its big tail, finally getting up to move elsewhere to avoid getting caught in the commotion. Once settled, it lay down again to bask in the sun.
Everyone inside the house couldn’t help but smile at the harmonious scene outside.
“Xingxing really isn’t even as good as Xiao Bao,”
Yan Shixun let out a cold snort. “Since he’s already healed, starting tomorrow he can join Xiao Bao in reciting texts.”
Ye Li: “No, I really don’t want to agree to that.”
Why did it feel like more and more people were living in this house? Having two ‘good sons’ was already enough—why had even his junior disciple joined the fun?
Ye Li felt like his dream of a quiet life with just the two of them was on the verge of collapsing.
All the ingredients and decorations the guests had bought earlier had already been delivered to Yan Shixun’s home. The chefs had also been chosen: the variety show celebrity and Zhao Zhen.
—After all, only the dishes made by these two were at least edible. The others’ cooking… was a disaster, one that made everyone suddenly appreciate the beauty of instant noodles.
So, once inside the courtyard, everyone quickly divided up tasks. Some took the decorative paper cuttings and couplets to paste on windows and walls.
Zhao Zhen and the variety show celeb checked off the ingredients one by one, discussing which dish to make first and which to make later. The remaining guests, who couldn’t cook, grabbed stools and sat in the kitchen to assist—washing vegetables, chopping, and passing dishes.
Seeing how An Nanyuan yawned nonstop along the way, everyone tacitly left him with the lightest job.
“You just stay here and wash and cut the veggies. When Zhao Zhen calls you, go to him, got it?”
An Nanyuan made a hand gesture to show he understood.
But as soon as he lowered his head, he couldn’t resist the drowsiness anymore. Snoring contentedly, he fell asleep under the warm winter sun.
Everyone: “………Well, okay then.”
Seeing how exhausted An Nanyuan was, no one had the heart to make him work. They decided to let the young master take over instead.
As for An Nanyuan, Yan Shixun simply scooped him up and laid him down on the sofa to sleep.
But seeing the young master rolling up his sleeves, ready to start working, Zhao Zhen still felt uneasy. He walked over, leaned in, and asked quietly, “Are you sure you can do this? Have you chopped veggies before? Be careful not to cut yourself.”
The young master had been holding the cutting board and knife, lost in thought. But Zhao Zhen’s question sparked his competitive spirit. He puffed out his chest and declared firmly, “Of course I can!”
Zhao Zhen, “Don’t push yourself too hard…”
“Pfft! You’re the one pushing too hard!”
In the end, Bai Shuang couldn’t stand it anymore. She rolled up her sleeves, came over, and sat next to the young master on a small stool, earnestly washing vegetables.
But just as everyone started to feel relieved, a few crisp crashing sounds rang out.
Looking back, they saw Bai Shuang standing awkwardly amidst a pile of shattered porcelain. “Sorry… my hand slipped. I broke two.”
Yan Shixun waved it off casually. “I already accounted for that. Smash away, think of it as firecrackers. A blessing for peace year after year.”
As a Taoist, how could he not have done a divination? His professional habits made him cast divinations all the time, and even more so for something as big as filming with Zhang Wubing.
But the outcome of Yan Shixun’s divination was that everything would go smoothly—except they’d lose a few dozen plates. Nothing major.
He quickly figured out why.
Previously, Zhang Wubing kept encountering ghosts. That was because the King of Hell had set up a defense mechanism to stop malicious spirits from eating him and preventing the Great Dao from seeing the records hidden in his soul. At the same time, the King of Hell was guiding him—divining the most consequential places for Heaven and Earth and sending Zhang Wubing there with Yan Shixun to resolve them.
Now that the world had restarted, the King of Hell’s job was done. Naturally, Zhang Wubing no longer encountered ghosts at random.
However, the constitution that had drawn ghosts to Zhang Wubing since childhood wouldn’t disappear overnight.
As Yan Shixun thought about this, his eyes fell on Zhang Wubing playing rambunctiously with Lu Xingxing in the yard.
“Xiao Bing.”
He called softly, and Zhang Wubing instantly perked up like an antenna receiving a signal. He quickly broke away from Jing Xiaobao and Lu Xingxing and ran over.
“What is it, Brother Yan?”
Zhang Wubing pointed at Lu Xingxing in protest, fuming, “Brother Yan, the names he gave the wolves are awful! I think I’d do a much better job.”
Yan Shixun: Though he didn’t hold out much hope, he still asked.
“What names did you come up with?”
Zhang Wubing puffed up with pride and said, “One is called ‘Ruyi’ (Good Fortune), and the other ‘Ping’an’ (Peace).”
Yan Shixun: “…Wow, truly a name-picking talent passed down in your family.”
Zhang Wubing scratched his head and asked shyly, “Then… how about ‘Zhaocai Jinbao’ (Bringing Wealth and Treasure)?”
Yan Shixun smacked the top of his head and ruffled his hair. “I don’t even want money. Why would I name them that?”
Zhang Wubing sniffled, feeling wronged. He honestly thought his names were pretty nice. Why didn’t Brother Yan like them?
“So, what are your thoughts about this show?” Yan Shixun asked as he leaned against the wall, one hand in his pocket. “The mission of this show is already complete. It’s time for you to do what you want. Do you have any plans?”
Zhang Wubing scratched his head, a bit embarrassed. “This show probably won’t have a second or third season. I don’t really know why, but… Brother Yan, I always felt like my soul was telling me I had to do this, that I had to go there. But now, that feeling is gone.”
“It’s like I’ve finished what I was supposed to do. Now I feel free and light.”
He grinned. “After the New Year, I’m planning to study filmmaking with Director Li Xuetang. My dad suddenly agreed and said he’d support me.”
“He even said that even if no one watched my movies, he’d still buy a ticket himself.”
Clenching his fist, Zhang Wubing’s eyes burned with passion. “I’m going to make a movie so good, my dad will be blown away! I swear I will!”
Yan Shixun quietly looked at the earnest young man beside him. For a moment, he saw the same figure from the past—grinning, fan in hand, carefree and radiant.
When he first met the nineteen-year-old Zhang Wubing, he had no idea this boy was the King of Hell. And Zhang Wubing hadn’t expected the state of the world to turn out this way either.
Though many things had gone beyond expectations, they had weathered it all. They honored the lives of those who had died and managed to restart the world. The Great Dao had been restored to its peak.
Still, even though Yan Shixun bore the weight of the Great Dao, he didn’t intend to stay in that role forever.
He had no craving for fame or fortune. It made no difference to him whether he had it or not.
The old Dao could still function. The reason for appointing a new Dao was simply to avoid another upheaval like the one a century ago—to eliminate any last risks and prepare a backup for the world’s safety.
Yan Shixun knew that he and Ye Li needed to pass the trials and become the Dao. But he never said he had to remain the Dao.
The next calamity might come in nine years or nine thousand years. The world was impermanent. All laws were impermanent. That was the truth.
As long as the world remained safe, untainted by ghosts and demons, that was enough.
Yan Shixun didn’t believe this was an era for ghost deities. Those were outdated remnants of ancient knowledge—meant to stay where the living couldn’t go, standing as a barrier between life and death, preventing spirits from crossing the line.
But the living didn’t need ghost deities. And he didn’t need the living to know he existed.
Once everything settled down, Yan Shixun planned to step back from his duties as the Great Dao, letting the still-surviving Old Dao carry the burden of maintaining the world.
Until the day the world needed him and Ye Li again, they would remain out of sight.
Until then, he would just be an ordinary exorcist. With Ye Li by his side, they’d roam the streets, meet people from all walks of life, expel evil, capture ghosts, and save lives.
They would speak for those who had no voice. They would seek justice for the wrongly dead.
And in their free time, they could relax in this little courtyard, bask in the sun, listen to Xiao Bao recite his lessons, and have two retired wolves napping by their feet.
That would be more than enough.
Before meeting Ye Li, Yan Shixun had never imagined he would have such thoughts. But after meeting Ye Li, the desire to be with him forever became something he couldn’t shake off.
To find even one kindred spirit in life was already incredibly difficult—let alone someone like Ye Li, who resonated with him from soul to flesh.
Yan Shixun had never fought for anything for himself. In the past, there had never been anything he truly wanted.
But now, there was someone he absolutely could not lose. That person had a name—Ye Li.
“Brother Yan, what will you do if I go off to shoot movies?”
Zhang Wubing had been laughing like an idiot just a second ago, but mid-laugh, he suddenly grew anxious. His brows knitted together as he said, “Brother Yan, then you’ll be all alone, won’t you? Why don’t you come join the film crew with me? We could shoot a movie together.”
Yan Shixun let out a soft snort. “Don’t worry. With that ghost-attracting constitution of yours, once the remnant soul of the King of Hell leaves for good…”
As he spoke, he suddenly realized what he was saying and abruptly stopped.
Zhang Wubing blinked in confusion, turning to look at Yan Shixun. “Huh? Isn’t Jing Xiaobao the King of Hell? What does me seeing ghosts have to do with Xiao Bao?”
“Nothing.”
Yan Shixun fell silent for a moment before speaking again. “Your ghost-attracting constitution will gradually improve when the time is right. Maybe in a few years, you’ll be no different from an ordinary person.”
Now that the mission was complete, it was time for farewells.
But Zhang Wubing scratched his head, clearly not ready to part ways. “I actually kind of like my constitution. I don’t want it to go away. Sure, it can be a pain sometimes, but I’ve gotten used to it after all these years. I’ve made it this far—I can last another year or two. Just leave it be. I think it’s fine.”
“I mean, if you’re not going to come with me, then I’ll have to go ask around at Haiyun Temple or someplace else, see if any Taoists would be willing to team up with me.”
Zhang Wubing looked at Yan Shixun with hopeful puppy-dog eyes, practically radiating a desperate hint.
Yan Shixun, however, said nothing.
He knew Zhang Wubing wasn’t afraid of being alone. He just didn’t like saying goodbye.
The two of them had different paths now. In the future, they probably wouldn’t see each other as often as before—not like during the show, where they lived side-by-side, even sleeping in adjacent rooms and visiting each other whenever they liked.
From behind them came the noisy sounds of Lu Xingxing and Jing Xiaobao bickering. Yan Shixun turned his head to glance back and suddenly had an idea.
“From now on, you can team up with Xingxing.”
He chuckled lightly. “His spellcasting sucks and he needs more training. But if we have him protect someone, I feel like we’re just setting that person up for failure. Might as well pair him with you—family doesn’t nitpick.”
Zhang Wubing gave an “oh” and then took a few beats to react: “Huh?? Brother Yan, are you saying that if the one being dragged down is me, then you’re totally fine with it?! QAQ”
He strongly protested: “I think Xingxing is totally unreliable!”
His voice was rather loud. Lu Xingxing, who had been happily playing with the tail of the lead wolf, instantly stood up and marched over. “Zhang Dabing! How dare you say I’m unreliable! The most unreliable one is clearly you!”
Taking advantage of the moment, Zhang Wubing clung to Yan Shixun and said, “Brother Yan, see? Xingxing doesn’t want to partner with me either, so maybe you—”
Before he could finish the sentence, Yan Shixun was suddenly swept into an embrace and pulled away by another figure.
From behind, Ye Li wrapped his arms tightly around Yan Shixun’s waist, unwilling to let go, glaring at Zhang Wubing as if he were a thief trying to steal his most prized treasure.
“This is my exorcist. My lover.”
Ye Li gave a cold snort and said, “If you want one, go find your own.”
“If I ever catch you trying to steal mine…”
Ye Li narrowed his eyes, his expression turning dangerous.
Yan Shixun, however, was far from touched. He coldly sneered and elbowed Ye Li in the ribs. “Get lost! Go cook.”
“Okay.”
From the kitchen came the sounds of clattering knives and chopping, the soft hum of the stove, the snores of someone napping in the living room, and the playful squeals of wolves and children in the courtyard.
And, in the midst of it all, the soft murmurs of lovers.
A peaceful, beautiful world filled with the warmth of everyday life.
Author’s Note:
With this, the main story is officially complete. Thank you to all the lovely readers who supported the official release and accompanied me on this journey. Muah~
There will be no more daily updates for the extras—they’ll drop at random. As a treat for those who followed the series, if you have any prompts or scenes you’d like to see (and that are allowed on JJ), feel free to leave a comment. While I won’t be able to write every single one, I’ll pick one theme from the comments for each extra.
If you love what Ciacia is doing, then consider showing your support by supporting a cup of tea for her at Kofi. If you can’t wait for the next release chapter, subscribe to advanced chapters membership on her Kofi to get access to up to 10 chapters!
