A group of people wasted no time on their journey, and in about half a day, they arrived at the wealthy Su family's residence.
Upon arriving at the Su family's home, the shaman felt as though she had entered the Grand View Garden like Granny Liu. Her eyes, from the moment she saw the imposing villa gate, darted around incessantly, displaying an excited demeanor.
"Oh my, is this how rich people live? It's so grand! I've only seen this in TV dramas before, and seeing it in person is truly more awe-inspiring."
When shamans like her do well and gain a certain reputation, word spreads quickly, leading to many people seeking their services. They are usually not short of money. Wealthy individuals, especially those with means, prefer to spend money to buy peace of mind, and thus are never stingy. It was somewhat incomprehensible that this shaman was not only lacking in wealth but also unacquainted with the world.
"Don't rich people hire you?"
Even Ye Tiancheng found himself curious. He thought that such a low-cost endeavor should be the most profitable. While shamans might have a bad reputation, they are incredibly lucrative.
"I haven't been out in a long time. I mostly operated within the village before and rarely had the chance to come out. Naturally, I haven't seen such grand houses belonging to wealthy families."
There was no fault to be found with the shaman for this. If anyone were to be blamed, it would be the sheer number of wealthy people in this world, with all sorts of extraordinary individuals. Although the Su family's villa was grand, in terms of its decoration, layout, and ambiance, it was far inferior to the villa that the female protagonist had arranged for Ye Tiancheng. Of course, the cost also differed; this is what is meant by "there is always someone better."
"Once you successfully complete this task, we can cooperate long-term. I'll take you to another villa. That place is filled with spiritual energy, situated halfway up a mountain. You'll absolutely love it. Don't be shy then; stay there for a while and experience what it's like to live a life of luxury."
Ye Tiancheng said this because he had confidence in the shaman. If he thought she was merely a charlatan, he wouldn't have spoken this way. After all, promises made must be kept, lest a man appear to be utterly irresponsible.
"That would be too embarrassing. Although I'm thick-skinned, I know when to draw a line between myself and outsiders. I wouldn't feel right about staying at someone else's place so casually."
Ye Tiancheng was very eager to resolve the Su family's issues, so he held the shaman in relatively high regard.
"It's alright. You're getting on in years anyway. Even if you don't stay at that villa, I can easily find you a good retirement home where you can live a comfortable and peaceful life. I'll take care of your remaining years."
Ye Tiancheng had already calculated that even finding a decent retirement home wouldn't cost much. As long as he could arrange for the shaman, it would be a worthwhile return. After all, performing a ghost marriage likely required a certain skill, and frankly, it bordered on deceiving the deceased, which was not an easy feat.
Upon hearing Ye Tiancheng's words, the shaman's face lit up with joy. If Ye Tiancheng truly kept his word, he would be more useful than her own son.
"Boss Ye, please rest assured. I will proceed with caution and do my best to complete the task. I won't disappoint you, or I'll be considered ungrateful, especially since you've been so good to me, not only by offering me a sum of money but also by considering my future."
Ye Tiancheng's warmth wasn't because he was a great philanthropist eager to help the elderly. It was because he had some uncertainty about this elderly woman and worried that something might go wrong. The best approach was to do his utmost and leave no regrets.
"However, this matter is very dangerous, which is why I'm making you so many promises. Although you're already here, I hope you've thought it through. You are facing a formidable enemy, and there is a certain degree of danger involved."
Despite Ye Tiancheng's warning, the shaman, already eager to begin, paid no heed to his words. Relying on her past experience, she confidently answered Ye Tiancheng's questions.
"Please don't worry, Boss Ye. I'm quite steady in my work. I don't take on tasks I'm not capable of. Just wait and see. I'll need about a day to prepare, and then I can begin the ritual."
Since the shaman had spoken so confidently, and Ye Tiancheng had no way of knowing her true abilities, his expectations increased. If the shaman wished to showcase her skills, Ye Tiancheng was naturally willing to cooperate.
Ye Tiancheng stated that he would fully cooperate and let the shaman proceed according to her plan. The entire Su family would also comply. Ye Tiancheng's intention was to resolve the issue quickly and not let it drag on. The events at the residence were already distressing enough, and any further delay would involve more complications, which would be highly unfavorable.
The ritual required quite a few items, but Ye Tiancheng did not find any of it troublesome. Whatever the shaman requested, Ye Tiancheng would not question it, even if it seemed unrelated or if the shaman might be mistaken or have ulterior motives. Ye Tiancheng dismissed all such thoughts and simply instructed the Su family's servants to prepare them.
As the day passed quickly, as soon as the sun began to set and the sky darkened, the ritual could commence. Ye Tiancheng felt both excited and exhilarated, experiencing an indescribable feeling.
When night fell and darkness enveloped the surroundings, the shaman, who had been waiting for nearly half an hour, finally began. She was clad in a specially made, somewhat golden robe, crafted from very fine material. The Su family's servants had specifically driven out of town to procure it. The robe was also sprinkled with a special liquid, which the shaman had specially prepared. The only ingredient Ye Tiancheng knew of was black dog blood. When the dog was bled, Ye Tiancheng had specifically instructed them not to harm its life, only to collect the blood.
Everyone gathered around, watching with bated breath, not daring to make a sound. They were all waiting to see if the shaman could truly dispel the dark cloud hanging over the Su family.
In the center of the courtyard, there was a coffin. Inside the coffin lay a paper effigy of Su Muxian, crafted to a 1:1 scale. This paper effigy was specially made by the shaman, a product of her skilled hands, and was the most technically demanding part of the entire process.
With the help of four strong men, the coffin lid was lifted. As the lid was opened, everyone felt a chilling gust of wind, whether it was a psychological effect or if something terrifying had indeed been summoned during the ritual, they couldn't be sure.
Everyone was somewhat tense, their eyes fixed on the coffin in the center of the courtyard. After a short while, the paper effigy in the coffin began to burn.
The shaman danced in the center of the courtyard, holding a sword and chanting incantations. To an outsider, it was impossible to discern anything. They could only hope that the shaman possessed some genuine skill to successfully perform this ghost marriage, allowing Su Muxian to be freed from this calamity and no longer be troubled. This would allow the Su family to regain their peace and prevent further fatalities, which had been causing constant turmoil.
The entire ritual lasted about half an hour. Normally, half an hour would be enough for Ye Tiancheng to take a nap, but for some reason this time, the duration felt exceptionally long.
However, with the shaman's final series of chants, tranquility was finally restored. Everyone knew the ritual had concluded.
The only lingering scent at the scene was that of burnt paper, and there were no other anomalies. The shaman collected all her props and then instructed the Su family's servants to clean up the remnants.
Ye Tiancheng anxiously walked over and asked, "How was it? Did everything go smoothly?"
"Everything went very smoothly. You couldn't see what happened, but I saw it all. I should congratulate the happy couple on their union, albeit in the underworld. The person in the coffin wasn't the real Su Muxian, but a stand-in that could pass for her. The entity that was harassing the Su family has been deceived. I don't think there will be any more problems; everything went very smoothly."
Ye Tiancheng's expression had been solemn when he first asked, but upon hearing the shaman's words, he instantly became happy. His serious expression relaxed, and he felt a sense of relief, unable to suppress a smile.
"That's wonderful! I was worried. I thought that fellow, although I had dealt with him quite severely before, was incredibly tenacious. I was concerned you might not be able to handle him. I didn't expect you, shaman, to be so capable and resolve it so easily. I must give you a thumbs-up."
Ye Tiancheng was overjoyed. The matter of payment was trivial now that the problem was solved. The heavy burden on his mind had finally been lifted.
"Then we should slaughter pigs and sheep to celebrate! I'll have someone arrange it right away."
The shaman nodded and was then called over by the servants to wash up before receiving her payment. From this point on, everything would be good news, as the most difficult hurdle had been overcome. The Su family would undoubtedly treat this benefactor who had solved their major problem generously. httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
"I'll go and get busy then. Mr. Ye, thank you for introducing me to this job. It has truly changed my life."
Ye Tiancheng smiled without saying a word. He then noticed that Su Muxian beside him seemed to have shed her previous gloom, a smile finally appearing on her face.
"Brother Ye, I never expected that by chance, we would find such a skilled person. Now we no longer have to worry about future threats. This is wonderful."
Su Muxian happily took Ye Tiancheng's hand, then quickly let go when she realized she might have overstepped a boundary.
"I'm so sorry. I was just too happy. I've been under a lot of pressure lately. For several days after the incident at home, I was in tears. Thankfully, all that suffering is over, and things are finally not so distressing. I don't have to live in constant fear anymore. This is truly wonderful, like seeing a rainbow after the storm."
Since it was a happy occasion, Ye Tiancheng did not want to dampen Su Muxian's spirits. "Alright, don't worry about the details. Didn't we agree to prepare a grand feast? To be precise, a continuous banquet. We should celebrate properly. After all, the Su family has been through so much, and now everything is starting anew. Everyone should wash away their past gloom, completely forget the unpleasantness of the past, and let the Su family have a bright and sunny beginning."
Su Muxian strongly agreed with this sentiment. "Don't worry, I've already asked the servants to prepare. Just wait. Two roasted whole sheep are already on the grill; you'll smell the aroma soon."