Time is life, efficiency is money.

The renovation workers were already measuring the doors and windows, using chalk to mark spacing on the floor. Uncle Zheng felt his efficiency was truly impressive, matching the Shenzhen speed from the early days of Reform and Opening Up.

He was in a great mood, looking through the floor-to-ceiling glass windows at the increasingly bustling street outside.

Hmm, that person walking over, is that… Luo Xiaodao?

Uncle Zheng was greatly pleased: he knew to come help, truly a teachable youth…

Then, he watched, kept watching…

Luo Ren entered Lian Yan.

Lian Shu was holding a silver-polishing cloth, dipped in begonia powder, cleaning a newly acquired armor finger ring.

Unlike the long finger guards used by women in the Qing Palace, this one was much simpler, made of silver in the shape of a fingernail, with a delicate lotus stem carved on top. The ring at the finger’s base was cleverly designed as an extension of the lotus stem. When worn, it made the fingers appear especially slender and fair.

She put on the finger guard and reached for the celadon cup nearby. The ring’s surface clinked against the cup with a delightful soft sound.

She felt completely different.

Just then, Luo Ren pushed open the door and entered.

Not expecting him to return, Lian Shu first froze, then became flustered, unconsciously hiding her fingers in her sleeves. If she remembered correctly, Luo Ren didn’t seem to care much for these delicate boudoir treasures.

Finally, a faint joy rose in her heart.

So you would come back after all.

Luo Ren looked over at the curio cabinet. The clay figurine was still there, with a spotlight specifically illuminating it from all sides, like a floodlight on a red carpet.

He went directly over and took it down.

Lian Shu approached, not rushing to speak, waiting until he had examined it thoroughly before explaining in a soft voice: “This is called a ‘Sweep-Clear Lady.'”

Luo Ren had never heard of it: “What’s the meaning behind it?”

“It originated during the Han Dynasty. Common people used it to pray for rain to stop and skies to clear. The typical image is a woman holding a broom, sweeping away the rain god to welcome clear weather. It’s commonly called ‘Sweep-Clear Lady.’ In northern regions, like Hanzhong in Shaanxi, they call her ‘Sky-Sweeping Granny.'”

“Do they have them everywhere?”

“Generally yes, most commonly as paper cuttings hung under the eaves. Foreign countries have them too, like Japan’s clear weather dolls. The appearance differs, but the meaning is the same.”

She pointed at the clay figurine for Luo Ren to see: “This one is more specific. The right hand holds a broom for sweeping away rain. On her left arm hangs a bundle containing soil, because earth conquers water. She also carries a basket containing rice offered by the supplicant—if you’re troubling someone to sweep away the rain, you should provide some payment.”

“Is there anywhere else selling these?”

A flash of pride crossed Lian Shu’s face: “No, most of my items are unique pieces, one of a kind.”

“So, where did you see or acquire this one?”

Lian Shu glanced at Luo Ren and remained silent for a while. After some time, she took out a brocade box and packed the Sweep-Clear Lady for him: “I just saw it described online and thought it sounded cute, so I made one myself based on the description. Would you like to pay by card or…”

Luo Ren took out his wallet and directly pulled out a stack of bills from one compartment, placing them on the counter. He took the brocade box and bid her farewell: “Thank you.”

Lian Shu took a while to recover. She counted the stack of bills—exactly twelve.

Which meant that before coming, Luo Ren had already prepared the money and had come specifically for this Sweep-Clear Lady?

Lian Shu felt somewhat disappointed. She watched Luo Ren leave, seeing that he was originally going to walk away when he suddenly paused, turned around, and entered the shop across from hers.

Mu Dai had been sitting in a car for a whole day and only arrived at Yan Hongsha’s home close to midnight. After a quick wash, she was so tired she collapsed into bed and fell asleep.

Yan Hongsha, however, was called away by Old Man Yan for some instructions and returned very late.

While deeply asleep, Mu Dai was shaken awake by Yan Hongsha: “Mu Dai, get up, we need to go.”

Is it dawn already? Mu Dai felt she couldn’t wake up. She turned over painfully and pulled out her phone to check.

Three-thirty in the morning.

She said, “Yan Hongsha, I absolutely must kill you.”

Yan Hongsha knelt on the bed, putting her palms together in supplication: “It’s not my fault. It’s Grandfather’s rule. He says we must rise earlier than the roosters to avoid prying eyes and ensure this trip remains secret and successful.”

Mu Dai’s face was expressionless: “Then increase my salary.”

“Yes, yes, yes.” Yan Hongsha nodded repeatedly like a pestle.

“Bring me my clothes.”

Yan Hongsha quickly got off the bed barefoot, grabbed Mu Dai’s clothes, and trotted back.

Mu Dai sighed and got up, slowly putting on her clothes. Halfway through dressing, she said wistfully, “I need to find a way to marry Luo Ren soon. That way, someone will support me, and I won’t have to work so hard.”

“Yes, yes, yes.” Feeling guilty, Yan Hongsha agreed with whatever Mu Dai said.

Unexpectedly, Mu Dai reconsidered and changed her mind: “No, women should be independent and self-reliant. We can’t depend on others; it’s unreliable.”

Yan Hongsha said: “Right, right, right.”

Breakfast was rice porridge, steamed buns, and pickled vegetables—hardly luxurious fare.

Yan Hongsha explained to Mu Dai that they would eat like this the whole journey. The food couldn’t contain meat because meat signified bloodshed and death, which was inauspicious.

If they encountered beggars on the road, they must give money because they were living off heaven’s bounty. When receiving something for nothing, one should give alms to those with tough lives.

They shouldn’t wear any gold, silver, or jewel accessories because they needed to be “poor”—completely destitute—to properly acquire…

Mu Dai’s heart skipped a beat. She reached up and touched her chest, feeling through her clothes for the pearl on her whistle.

Yan Hongsha noticed and leaned in close: “Don’t mind my grandfather. He’s just putting on airs. How is he poor?”

She added, “Later, in the evening, we’ll sneak out and eat meat.”

Mu Dai immediately felt reassured.

The journey to Four Stockades was rather circuitous, first flying from Kunming to Guiyang, then from Guiyang to Libo in Qiannan.

By the time they reached Libo, it was already afternoon. To save time, they went to the bus station to hire a private car. Old Man Yan was quite elderly, and Yan Hongsha knew nothing about such matters, so negotiating fell to Mu Dai.

Surrounded by several drivers, hearing half-familiar Mandarin, she felt somewhat anxious but had to feign experience.

—”How long have you been driving? Plains or mountain roads?”

—”Does this price include meals? How do we split fuel costs?”

—”After we arrive, we’ll need to return. We’ll see how many days we stay, and if we come back, we might use your car again…”

Finally settling on one driver, he took them to their booked hotel, arranging to pick them up early the next morning.

While entering the room, Mu Dai noticed a hotel cleaning staff member. On impulse, she casually chatted with her to inquire about local car hire rates. Comparing what she learned, Mu Dai found her choice had excellent value for money.

Mu Dai thought herself quite capable.

That night, lying in bed, she called Luo Ren, emphasizing this achievement. After listening, Luo Ren commented: “Hmm.”

What did “hmm” mean?

Dissatisfied, Mu Dai grumbled: “You won’t even praise me.”

Luo Ren laughed on the other end, then after a pause said: “I suspect that after reaching Four Stockades, you’ll still need to change vehicles.”

Indeed, regarding the specific treasure-hunting location, Old Man Yan would only say “Four Stockades,” refusing to elaborate no matter how much they pressed him. Even Yan Hongsha couldn’t get anything out of him.

“When you’re there, pay attention to the route. If there are landmarks, send them to me.”

Mu Dai’s heart skipped a beat: “Why?”

She realized herself: “Luo Ren, are you planning to follow? That’s not good.”

Getting anxious, she rolled over from lying on her back to her stomach.

“Old Man Yan is being so secretive about this, afraid of too many people knowing. If you follow behind in a car, he’ll be furious. Don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine, I’ll be careful about everything…”

She made many promises. Luo Ren didn’t interrupt, listening until she finished, then asked: “Do you want me to come?”

Mu Dai fell silent.

He knew what to say.

“Do you want me to come?”

Five words, like small golden arrows, suddenly pinned her heart, tickling and tingling, the arrow’s fletching still quivering.

She fidgeted with the corner of the blanket under her, stammering: “Yes, I do.”

Luo Ren laughed, then, after a pause, said: “Be careful yourself. The third Deadly Slip might be near Four Stockades.”

Deadly Slip?

Mu Dai suddenly became alert. These days, she had almost forgotten about this matter.

She stuttered: “H-how did it appear again?”

Luo Ren sent a picture of the Sweep-Clear Lady to the WeChat group.

He had searched online for information about the Sweep-Clear Lady. What Lian Shu said was mostly correct. The Sweep-Clear Lady was typically depicted as a woman waving a broom, mostly as paper cutouts, though some were made as small cloth dolls. The style varied by region.

He hadn’t found one exactly like the one he had, but that wasn’t surprising. One article mentioned that some people created personalized, imaginative variations of the Sweep-Clear Lady.

One stone stirred a thousand ripples.

Cao Yanhua timidly asked: “What if we ignore it? What would happen?”

Since returning from Five Pearl Village, they had finally resumed normal lives. Pin Ting’s health was gradually improving, Yi Wansan’s father’s ashes had finally been buried, and the restaurant renovation was progressing well…

Everything was going well, and no one wanted to wade into these troubled waters again.

This feeling was understandable.

Luo Ren sent over a side-by-side comparison image.

Yi Wansan noticed first: “Has it faded? Also, the phoenix’s head position seems different.”

Luo Ren briefly explained the situation, then said, “Now I’m worried about something. If the phoenix in this fish tank keeps getting lighter in color, what will happen in the end?”

Mu Dai stared at her phone, looking at Luo Ren’s message, momentarily dazed.

The phoenix’s color seemed to represent the Phoenix-Luan Clasp’s restraint over the Deadly Slip. If the color was fading, did that mean the Deadly Slip would break free again?

If so, the first unfortunate victim would be Pin Ting, right?

Yi Wansan thought of this too: “It seems that if the previously possessed person hasn’t died, the Deadly Slip would find her again—but surely it wouldn’t bother my father’s ashes again?”

No one answered.

Because at that moment, a notification showed that a new person had been invited to the group.

—Luo Ren invited “Bathing in Friends’ Care Gun” to the group chat.

—”Bathing in Friends’ Care Gun” is not a WeChat friend with other group members. Please be aware of this relationship.