Walking out of the Bai Family estate, Lang Jiuchuan was radiant with pleasure, the smile on her face impossible to suppress.

Jian Lan was quite curious. Dealing with these matters of guiding the dead — clearly a thankless and exhausting task — how could she still be so delighted? Was it because she had saved people?

Unable to contain herself, Jian Lan asked aloud.

Lang Jiuchuan said, “My dear Jian Lan, there are people who must fight with everything they have simply to stay alive!”

And she herself had drawn one step closer to that nirvana.

Jian Lan didn’t quite understand what that meant, but seeing the smile lingering on her face, she thought that this must simply be what Lang Jiuchuan was willing to do — no matter how difficult or bitter.

They boarded the Bai estate’s carriage. Jian Lan looked back and saw Yice hurrying after them. “Miss, that Yice Daoren is following us again.”

Lang Jiuchuan looked out. “What do you want?”

“You still haven’t answered me — who is your master?”

“None of your business!” Lang Jiuchuan said irritably. “Stop following. Unless you want trouble. And another thing — in the future, when driving away spirits and catching ghosts, don’t be so reckless. You risk doing good while causing harm. A vengeful infant spirit like that carries enormous resentment. The moment you laid eyes on it, without a second thought, you launched an attack on it without concern for the living nearby — and failing to incapacitate it with a single strike only enraged it further, putting those people in even greater danger.”

Yice was sulky. “It was trying to kill people. Was I supposed to greet it warmly before striking? Since ancient times, the righteous and the wicked cannot coexist. Isn’t learning the Dao meant for the purpose of vanquishing evil and upholding righteousness? What, should I simply stand by while evil spirits and demons harm people?”

“Some ghosts become malicious and full of resentment because of the karmic debts owed to them. Sometimes, if no one had committed wrongdoing, such vengeful spirits and resentful ghosts would never have been created in the first place. How do you know that before they became such tormented spirits, they were not good people?” Lang Jiuchuan said mildly. “The righteous and the wicked truly cannot coexist — but cause and effect are equally real. A person who performs good deeds or evil ones will receive a corresponding reckoning. This is the eternal law of heaven, unchanged since antiquity. Otherwise — what was it that made you join the Feng Family? Surely you weren’t attracted by wealth and status?”

“Of course not…” Yice fell silent, watching her warily. Was she trying to draw out his words?

He let out a snort. “You speak so beautifully, and yet you still killed that vengeful spirit in the end. Didn’t it become what it was precisely because of karmic debt?”

“Yes — but the Bai husband and wife were not the primary cause, nor was their guilt great enough to warrant death. And besides, have they not already received a corresponding punishment, having brushed the edge of death? What could be more painful than desperately wanting something and being denied it?” Lang Jiuchuan said. “I had already given that vengeful spirit a chance. I was willing to use the Vajra Divine Incantation to guide it onward. It was the spirit’s own willful stubbornness that refused salvation — so I had no choice but to play the villain. This is called courtesy before force. Understand?”

Yice looked at her, brow furrowed. How to put it — he had the distinct feeling that this woman was more sinister than the evil spirit itself.

Lang Jiuchuan had no interest in engaging further. She let the curtain drop and had the coachman drive the carriage away.

Yice walked a few steps, and then — thinking over her words, and his own affairs — stopped in his tracks and muttered to himself, “Fine, I won’t follow. I know where your nest is. I can always find you later.”

Back at the Ten Thousand Affairs Shop, Fuqi came out to meet them. Looking at Lang Jiuchuan’s expression, he frowned and asked, “Did things at the Bai estate go poorly?”

“Not exactly. This was the first time I tried using both Buddhist and Daoist techniques together to drive out a spirit. I wasn’t very familiar with the combination, so it cost me some extra effort. I’ll get better at it with practice.” Lang Jiuchuan’s expression was relaxed. “It was taxing this time, but I gained something from it. Worth it.”

Jian Lan was still cradling a red box containing a stack of banknotes — the first portion of the commission from the Bai estate, of which half would be given away to charity.

Lang Jiuchuan glanced toward the back hall. “Hmm — another visitor?”

Fuqi made a sound of affirmation. “But this one doesn’t quite look like a guest to me.”

“Oh?” Lang Jiuchuan stepped into the shop, her smile carrying a teasing edge. “Could it be someone else coming to pick a quarrel?”

“Mm.” Fuqi felt that was probably the case.

Lang Jiuchuan paused mid-step, curiosity piqued, and quickened her pace toward the back.

In the back hall, Nanny Song was accompanying a man who had the appearance of a household steward, both of them standing at the entrance to the private room. Seeing Lang Jiuchuan arrive, Nanny Song said, “The proprietress is back.”

The steward glanced over. Seeing Lang Jiuchuan, his brow gave an involuntary twitch. He walked to the doorway and quietly relayed a word inside.

Lang Jiuchuan stepped into the private room and saw an elderly man with silver-white hair seated with his back to her. She gave a slight sniff. The scent of medicinal herbs — she had herself a fellow practitioner of sorts.

The old man turned around. Though he had mentally prepared himself, the moment he laid eyes on Lang Jiuchuan, his eyelids still twitched — even his eyebrows were trembling.

He drew a breath, rose to his feet, and said, “I have heard that a Ten Thousand Affairs Shop has opened here. You are the proprietress of this establishment? So young — I wonder whether you are truly able to alleviate this old man’s suffering?”

Lang Jiuchuan walked toward him. The medicinal fragrance grew stronger. She gave his face a brief look, a faint gleam flickering through her eyes, and said, “What is it that the old gentleman seeks?”

“This old man has long been afflicted with a chronic illness. Naturally, I wish to restore my health.” The old man smiled bitterly and gave a few coughs.

“You yourself are a physician dedicated to healing others, and furthermore hold an official position as an Imperial Physician. Clearly your medical knowledge is formidable. And yet you sought out this small shop of mine — and took some medicine beforehand to make yourself appear somewhat frail and weakened — just to probe how much I am truly worth? ” Lang Jiuchuan gestured for him to sit and took a seat herself. “There is absolutely no need for that, Elder. If you truly want to test me, bring an actual patient.”

The old man was startled, and quickly composed himself. “How did you know I am an Imperial Physician?”

“You carry the scent of medicinal herbs, which tells me you have spent a lifetime handling medicinal materials. As for your official rank — I imagine that when you came here today, you also made inquiries about me. I have some small grasp of the arcane arts, and physiognomy is naturally among them. One’s official fortunes show clearly in the face — and yours are glowing bright, at a rank that is no trifling matter.” Lang Jiuchuan touched a point on her own face and said, “Let me think… You must be Chief Physician Ou. You’ve come to sound me out on behalf of Sir Zeng, regarding his blindness?”

The old man was now genuinely surprised — his expression shifting to open admiration at her acuity and cleverness. But that did not mean he was yet convinced she had the ability to perform the gold needle cataract procedure on Zeng Jichuan.

Watching Lang Jiuchuan deduce his identity with a single glance, Chief Physician Ou said, “You are sharp indeed. But do you understand that the gold needle cataract procedure is no ordinary acupuncture technique? I do not know how you persuaded Zeng Jichuan to let you attempt it. Even if the procedure fails, his eyes cannot get much worse than they already are — but in the absence of absolute certainty, this old man still advises you not to act impulsively, lest you bring trouble upon yourself and your family.”

Lang Jiuchuan laughed. “Chief Physician, I am not an Imperial Physician. Even when dealing with the powerful and noble, I do not carry such reservations. I am constitutionally incapable of learning the Imperial Physician’s brand of excessive caution and timidity. I only know that when a patient comes to me seeking treatment, if I can cure them and they are willing to trust me — then I treat them. As for absolute certainty, where in all the healing of sickness and saving of lives is there ever absolute certainty? Insisting on complete safety, one may well miss the best window for treatment entirely. I know your reminder was well-intentioned. But I’m afraid, very likely, our paths are simply not meant to align.”

Chief Physician Ou’s frown deepened. She would not heed counsel. He felt a measure of regret, and said no more. Rising to his feet, he said, “Then this old man has intruded upon your time today.”

But Lang Jiuchuan said, “The Chief Physician was kind enough to offer me guidance. I have nothing to offer in return — so let me give you a reading instead. Chief Physician, this young woman, in observing your face, sees the physiognomy of one who will not meet a peaceful end in old age.”