Another peaceful day passed. With nothing to do, I asked Ding Kan about Xiao Qingshan (Little Green Mountain).

Although Xiao Qingshan was called "Xiao" (Little), it was no smaller than Da Qingshan (Big Green Mountain). The temple I was looking for was deep within Xiao Qingshan. Ding Kan had been to villages at the foot of Xiao Qingshan and was quite familiar with the area. We could find villagers to guide us in.

Besides Xiao Qingshan, I also kept an eye on Bai Tingting.

Bai Tingting managed the Bai Group very well, and the business was even more prosperous than when her husband was alive. She frequently appeared online and even on television. Whenever she appeared in public, she always had a bright smile, a true successful female entrepreneur, completely different from the Bai Tingting who used to rely on her beauty and petty cleverness to get by.

I couldn't help but wonder, was this really Bai Tingting?

Bai Tingting, the White Fox, the Half-Fox—after being merged into one, how much of Bai Tingting was still in this role?

Did she still have any say in her body? I even wondered if her soul was still there. Did the two foxes just take her physical shell?

But if the White Fox and the Half-Fox only wanted a shell, why would they take one that had been damaged by the abacus backlash? Wouldn't it be better to find a complete shell? Bai Tingting was beautiful, but there were many people more beautiful than her. Why did they have to choose her?

So many things didn't make sense to me. I hoped the trip to Xiao Qingshan would give me some answers.

And so, another leisurely day passed.

Ding Kan wasn't in a hurry to leave the shop. He had promised Granny Yin and Eighth Miss to help investigate the fox clan talismans, and he would keep his word. He planned to leave after returning from Xiao Qingshan.

However, Ding Kan was a free man now, after all, and didn't stay cooped up in the shop all the time. He went out for the day, not sure where he went, and came back drunk, not knowing what he had been doing all day.

I didn't have any business all day. After Ding Kan came back, I planned to close up. Just as I took down the "Open" sign, Ling Dang appeared again.

"Shopkeeper Wan, I'll return Yan Ji to you. Can you help me investigate my father's death?" Ling Dang was dressed in black, holding a black umbrella. In just one day, she looked completely haggard.

"I'm sorry, I don't think it's appropriate." I couldn't remember how many times I had rejected Ling Dang.

"Why? Aren't you worried about Yan Ji? You handed her over to me yourself. If something happens to her, isn't that the same as killing her yourself?"

"I'm sorry, your love Gu (a type of poisonous insect used in black magic) is powerful, but it's not completely incurable. I happen to have a way to deal with love Gu. I'm no longer the Wan Qian who was infatuated with Yan Ji."

"I know," Ling Dang said immediately. "When I saw you yesterday, I knew you had already resolved the love Gu. But even if you don't love Yan Ji, don't you feel indebted to her?

Even if she's not the woman you loved to death, she's still an innocent woman, right?

In a cauldron of conspiracy and blood like the Corpse Control Sect, she has been able to stick to her principles, having her own sense of propriety and her own principles. Such a woman, with both beauty and wisdom, can you really bear to destroy her with your own hands?"

Good for Ling Dang, she really had all the lines down. But was I so easily fooled by her?

"If Yan Ji suffers any misfortune because of this, I will feel guilty indeed. Therefore, I have already divined for her. She is safe now and has completely escaped your control. I don't need to worry about her."

Ling Dang wasn't surprised. "Shopkeeper Wan, you really have good means. But Yan Ji escaped on her own ability. You still owe her after all."

I snorted and said, "Whether I owe her or not is between her and me. It has nothing to do with you. I won't help you investigate Shi Tu's death just because I owe Yan Ji."

I turned to go into the shop, but Ling Dang stopped me again.

"Then, what if Yan Ji asks you to investigate my father's death? Would you still disagree?"

"If Yan Ji asks me to investigate, I can indeed investigate. But Yan Ji hasn't made such a request to me."

"I am now making such a request to you. May I ask you to accept Miss Shi Wanling's commission?" The car door behind Ling Dang opened, and Yan Ji slowly stepped out of the car, her steps full of charm, her face full of smiles, but her eyes were clear, pure, and deep, like the stars and the sea.

This was truly an unfathomable woman. She wasn't a chameleon, but consistent. Yet, you couldn't define her with any particular style.

Yan Ji, this was Yan Ji, the unique Yan Ji. She could integrate all kinds of beauty into herself, yet it wasn't discordant or abrupt.

"Well, Shopkeeper Wan, won't you give me face, will you?" Yan Ji had already walked in front of me and even blinked her somewhat innocent big eyes.

The charm of this woman was truly irresistible. Even without the love Gu, I still had a lot of affection for her.

"If you ask me to investigate, of course I will. But why do you want to investigate Shi Tu's death? What does it have to do with you?"

Yan Ji smiled and said, "How Shi Tu died really has nothing to do with me. However, I also have a small deal with Miss Shi. I need to help her fulfill this commission. I hope Shopkeeper Wan will give me some face."

"Yes, I formally accept her commission."

"Thank you, Shopkeeper Wan." Yan Ji bowed to me according to ancient women's etiquette.

I was amazed by her again. Such a simple action, she could make it so beautiful that it was breathtaking. The heroines in those costume dramas couldn't compare to one ten-thousandth of her. I even wondered how such a beautiful person could appear in such a turbid world.

"Since Shopkeeper Wan is so generous, I'll take the opportunity to ask Shopkeeper Wan for another favor. How about a discount on the price?" Yan Ji's clear big eyes were always smiling.

"What price does the lady think is appropriate for me to charge her?"

"Ling Dang has just lost her father and is not financially well-off. A symbolic eighty thousand yuan, does Shopkeeper Wan think that's okay?"

"Okay." I seemed unable to refuse any of Yan Ji's words.

Yan Ji looked back at Ling Dang. Ling Dang quickly took out a stack of cash from her bag, exactly eighty thousand. She had already prepared it.

After I took the money, Yan Ji left, walking away and not getting back into Ling Dang's car.

I just stood there at the door, quietly watching her slowly disappearing back, until it was completely out of sight.

"Shopkeeper Wan, let's go." Ling Dang opened the car door.

I withdrew my gaze and looked at Ling Dang. All the beautiful moments just now had disappeared.