As for how to handle the matter of Feng Man'er, he still needed to consider it carefully.
At present, Xu Qing possessed a dozen drops of dew from the Three Lives Stone. If a ghost consumed this dew, it would enable them to remember memories from three lifetimes. Even when they entered the cycle of reincarnation, their memories would not vanish.
If a living person consumed it, it could awaken memories from past and present lives, and make the person aware of their inherent wisdom.
If Feng Man'er truly was that True Monarch, Xu Qing could have made her consume the dew from the Three Lives Stone right now to awaken her past life memories.
But...
Xu Qing glanced sideways, and upon seeing the harmonious scene within the Feng Family, he ultimately shook his head.
One Feng Man'er couldn't save the world, and awakening her would only add trouble for the Feng Family and that True Monarch.
Instead, he might as well follow the will of heaven and let this family enjoy the pleasures of human relationships.
Besides that, he could also guide Feng Man'er back onto the path of cultivation, and when the day arrived and the time was right, then he could discuss the matter of awakening.
However, given the current age of evil, to prevent Feng Man'er, who has a naturally upright character, from encountering insurmountable calamities, Xu Qing had tied up Ascendant Fuluan to let this Immortal be Feng Man'er's protector.
On the stage, Liu Su'e, who usually played the role of a middle-aged woman, now had fresh makeup on, playing the role of the valiant Daomadan.
Xu Qing was deeply engrossed while watching the performance from below the stage when suddenly a familiar voice rang out beside him.
"Old Xu, you really know how to enjoy life!"
Xu Qing turned his head, and saw Zhao Zhonghe, with his head full of white hair, sitting beside him as if they were old friends.
"Oh, Old Zhao, still kicking!"
Zhao Zhonghe spat and cursed: "A dog's mouth can't spit out ivory. Don't worry, old man, I promise to outlive you! You just stop thinking about arranging my funeral already!"
Xu Qing was used to Zhao Zhonghe's foul language, so he ignored it and said: "Back in the day, the fat short guy from Rongsheng Zhai said the same, and now I bet the weeds on his grave are taller than the roof of my house..."
"Can't you wish me well? I came looking for you on serious business."
Zhao Zhonghe frowned and said irritably: "You're good with Feng Shui and fortune telling, so you must also be able to interpret dreams."
"Recently, I don't know what's been going on, but I toss and turn at night and can't sleep. Even when I do fall asleep, I keep dreaming of being entangled by a group of fierce ghosts."
"Those evil spirits are quite formidable, like the Lord of Ten Thousand Ghosts or the Ten Kings of Yan! I couldn't fight them, and near my ear, I heard the sounds of tigers and leopards. When I turned to look, I saw a pitch-black leopard standing on a hill. When I tried to chase after it, it disappeared again..."
Zhao Zhonghe took a sip of wine, growing more agitated: "Having this dream once or twice would be fine, but recently, I don't know why, but it's been happening night after night."
"Lord Chen, upon hearing of this, specially sought his godson, Master Sanjue, to come and diagnose me."
"That young rascal spews nonsense, claiming that I'm nearing my end and seeing past grievances in my dreams. This restlessness is due to a depletion of vitality."
"To think I watched him grow up, and this little brat wants me to take the tonsure, become a monk, and follow him in practicing vegetarianism and reciting sutras..."
Zhao Zhonghe cursed and swore.
In the end, he asked Xu Qing: "Old Xu, you're not much younger than me. Do you ever have nightmares like mine?"
Xu Qing felt a stir in his heart, and said: "I haven't done anything against my conscience, so what nightmares would I have? Old Zhao, could it be that you haven't been watching your tongue and incurred some karmic retribution?"
"..."
Zhao Zhonghe frowned deeply, somewhat shaken.
But soon he responded: "Don't try to scare me with your words! Even if I'm a bit rough, I haven't done anything unconscionable."
"Besides, if there really was retribution, why are there so many wicked people running scot-free in this world, while honest folks get bullied?"
As a lifetime constable, Zhao Zhonghe understood human nature better than anyone. Maybe retribution was once a thing, but clearly not in today's world!
Xu Qing narrowed his eyes, his tone inexplicable: "Old Zhao, you really don't have any guilty deeds?"
"I might not qualify as a good person, but I'm certainly not a bad one. Let alone guilty acts, I haven't done even the slightest bit of anything against my conscience!"
Xu Qing leaned back, relaxed against the back of his chair, and asked Zhao Zhonghe: "Remember that time outside Cui's Mill, when you shot an arrow without any questions asked? Do you still remember that incident?"
Zhao Zhonghe tried hard to recall and then shook his head: "Don't remember. In my life, I've arrested thousands of people, if not tens of thousands. How could I recall something from decades ago?"
The ever meticulous Xu Qing prompted again: "You may not remember the person, but you surely remember picking up a smooth stick outside Cui's Mill, right? That stick belonged to the person who was injured by your arrow..."
"Are you talking about that stick I lost while eating lamb offal soup in February, forty-five years ago?"
"Indeed! You were there eating duck blood soup at the time..."
Zhao Zhonghe furrowed his brow, sprang to his feet with a clatter, and stared at Xu Qing with wide eyes, almost gritting his teeth as he asked:
"Did you take my stick by any chance?"
"..."
Xu Qing was silent for a while; the constable didn't seem to remember much else but sure remembered his dog-beating stick well.
"Setting aside whether I took it, just tell me if the mill incident was your doing!"
Zhao Zhonghe finally realized, asking, "Wasn't it you?"
"It was my friend. You hurt my friend, there's got to be an explanation for this."
Xu Qing conjured up a fictitious friend, but regardless of the details, Zhao Zhonghe indeed owed him a lot of favors.
"It was just one arrow, that's that!"
Zhao Zhonghe said generously, "Let your friend shoot me in the arm with another arrow, but you gotta lend me that stick for a bit. I haven't gambled or whored for years, but whenever I see something straight, I keep thinking about that stick..."
Xu Qing suddenly regretted bringing this up; he never thought the constable would be so fixated on that dog-beating stick.
"Old Zhao, weren't you here for some dream interpretation? Coincidentally, I know someone who's great at divination. Let me introduce you!"
Xu Qing swiftly changed the subject, leading Zhao Zhonghe to the place where Ascendant Fuluan was teasing his godson, and introduced:
"This is Ascendant Fuluan, the godfather of my god-grandson."
Xu Qing draped an arm around Zhao Zhonghe's shoulder and beckoned to Ascendant Fuluan:
"Hey, Fuluan! This is an old friend of mine, surname Zhao, he used to be the constable of Linjiang City. Lately, he keeps having nightmares; you've got to have a good look at him!"
Ascendant Fuluan ignored Xu Qing's words, intently staring at Zhao Zhonghe.
It wasn't until Xu Qing waved his hand in front of Fuluan's eyes that he snapped back to reality.
Ascendant Fuluan's face changed as he pulled Xu Qing aside.
"Speak properly, why are you pulling me?"
Ascendant Fuluan's gaze passed Xu Qing, occasionally looking toward Zhao Zhonghe.
With a serious expression, he said, "Daoist Xu, do you know who this person is?"
Xu Qing's expression became restrained, calmly replying, "I have some guesses, but they're not confirmed. Why, might you have seen something too, Daoist Fuluan?"
Ascendant Fuluan took a deep breath and said shockingly, "A thousand years ago, during the battle between Xuantan True Monarch and Ghost Law, I saw from afar that the Bone Temple at the Yin-Yang Boundary Stele was actually the monument tomb erected by Demon Exorcism True Monarch for Xuantan True Monarch!"
"And this Chief Zhao resembles Xuantan True Monarch a great deal!"
Xu Qing followed Ascendant Fuluan's gaze to Zhao Zhonghe, who was idly picking his nose when a gust of wind unexpectedly blew through, and a silver note somehow swirled around and stuck to Zhao Zhonghe's face.
"..."
The two exchanged glances, already reaching a conclusion in their hearts.
"If I recall correctly, Xuantan True Monarch is a deity of wealth in the higher realm?"
"He is the central deity of wealth governing all treasures in the mortal world, also known as the Martial God of Wealth."
Xu Qing pondered for a moment and summoned Zhao Zhonghe over again.
"Old Zhao, I want to ask you something. Think carefully before answering."
Zhao Zhonghe replied gruffly, "We're old friends, just say whatever you need to. But let me be clear, don't come to me for any crooked business!"
Xu Qing smiled and said, "No crooked business, I'm just going to ask you one thing."
"Do you want to become an Immortal?"
——————
Xu Qing followed Ascendant Fuluan's gaze to Zhao Zhonghe, who was idly picking his nose when a gust of wind unexpectedly blew through, and a silver note somehow swirled around and stuck to Zhao Zhonghe's face.
"..."
The two exchanged glances, already reaching a conclusion in their hearts.
"If I recall correctly, Xuantan True Monarch is a deity of wealth in the higher realm?"
"He is the central deity of wealth governing all treasures in the mortal world, also known as the Martial God of Wealth."
Xu Qing pondered for a moment and summoned Zhao Zhonghe over again.
"Old Zhao, I want to ask you something. Think carefully before answering."
Zhao Zhonghe replied gruffly, "We're old friends, just say whatever you need to. But let me be clear, don't come to me for any crooked business!"
Xu Qing smiled and said, "No crooked business, I'm just going to ask you one thing."
"Do you want to become an Immortal?"