The time was midnight.
We were done with the Ming Lou in an hour.
The efficiency was still very high.
Wu Jing walked behind us, listening to our conversation, feeling that we were incredibly awesome.
But he couldn't join in.
Now that Lao Mo and I had a new goal, there was no time to delay.
We led Wu Jing and went straight out the main gate of the Ming Lou.
As we exited the Ming Lou and looked back,
We found that the Ming Lou had changed considerably from when we arrived.
The Ming Lou had become a ruin, its walls covered in moss and decay.
The "Zhao Cai Mahjong Hall" banner from before had been replaced by a withered tree.
Lao Mo and I glanced at it briefly before leaving.
Destroying a gambling den of the Longevity Society didn't bring much sense of accomplishment.
We returned the way we came.
We reached the highway again. It was a desolate area with no one in sight, let alone a car.
Fortunately, we had mobile signal. After paying an extra eighty yuan, we waited for half an hour for a driver to accept the fare.
As we waited for the car, the three of us chatted with Lao Mo:
"Lao Mo, you've been trying to get your driver's license for almost a year and still haven't got it.
Can't you hurry up? It'll be much easier for us to go out at night then."
Lao Mo took a puff of his cigarette.
"Soon. The instructor said the exam is in a few days.
If all goes well, I should have the license within half a month!"
"That's good!
Having a car will make our travel more convenient.
If all else fails, I'll go get a motorcycle license.
Do you know how to ride a motorcycle?"
"A three-wheeler?"
"Hell no, a two-wheeler."
"..."
Lao Mo and I chatted casually, our conversation going back and forth.
Wu Jing watched us with wide eyes.
"You two Daoist priests, do you, do you really have to get driver's licenses at your level of cultivation?"
I looked back at Wu Jing and smiled.
"Why else? Our professions are just different."
"There's no conflict between cultivation and getting a driver's license!"
Perhaps Wu Jing was finally understanding.
Besides catching ghosts, we were no different from ordinary people in other aspects.
Driving required a license, and if we couldn't get a taxi at night, we had to pay more.
After a while, the car arrived.
It would have been fine, but as we got into the car,
We noticed a little girl inside.
The little girl looked about three or four years old, plump and chubby.
She was already asleep in the back seat, buckled into her seatbelt.
Before we could say anything,
The female driver, in her thirties, spoke.
"Sorry about this!
No one could watch the child at home, so I brought her out to drive for ride-hailing.
I apologize!"
I was quite understanding of such situations.
After all, not everyone could live a good life.
Not everyone could have someone at home to take care of their children.
"It's okay, Sister. We'll fit."
Saying that, the three of us got into the car.
Wu Jing sat in the passenger seat, while Lao Mo and I sat in the back.
The little girl was in the middle, plump and fair-skinned, looking very cute.
After driving for a while, the female driver glanced at the rearview mirror and asked,
"You three are out here so late, what are you doing?"
The driver asked casually.
Wu Jing hesitated to speak, so I replied with a smile.
"Oh! We were out for a wild fishing trip, but our rods broke, so we're going home empty-handed."
Hearing this, Wu Jing felt a blush creep up his neck.
He had gone out fishing that night, encountered the Ming Lou, and lost his life.
The woman chuckled and said "Oh" a few times, then stopped talking to us.
However, our voices woke up the sleeping little girl.
This little girl was truly well-behaved. After waking up, she didn't cry or fuss.
She hugged her hands, afraid of touching me and Lao Mo.
She called us "Gege" (older brother) in a soft, adorable voice.
Traffic was good tonight. Around half past one, we arrived at the shop.
As we got out of the car, the little girl waved goodbye to me and Lao Mo...
Now, we stood at the shop entrance, watching the ride-hailing car disappear into the distance.
Lao Mo smiled and said,
"That little girl is so cute. When I get married, I'll have a baby girl too. She's so adorable."
I chuckled.
"Let's talk about that after you find a girlfriend!"
Since we needed to set up an altar to invite Yin messengers, we had to prepare many things.
Offerings were essential.
Fruits, eggs,冥币 (spirit money), paper houses, and more had to be prepared.
"Lao Mo, let's split up.
You prepare the spirit tablets and ritual tools, and I'll prepare the offerings.
We'll meet at the bridge ahead later.
If our uncle is still awake, tell him too."
Lao Mo grunted an affirmation and, without further ado, returned to the Wanshou Hall.
Wu Jing followed me, carrying the Qiankun bag.
Back at the shop, Xiao Mei was still asleep.
I didn't disturb her and took out all the fruits in the room.
I also took out the half roasted duck we hadn't finished from the refrigerator.
I boiled water and cooked eggs.
I took out the spirit rice and cooked some more.
I glanced at the takeout options, which were either barbecue or Xiang Duo Wei.
I wasn't sure if the Yin messengers would like these things.
It was better to prepare more, just in case.
So, I ordered a few items casually.
Then, I sat in the shop and rested for a while.
After about thirty minutes, the items were delivered.
The rice, eggs, and other food were also ready.
I asked Wu Jing to help carry the items, and we headed out together.
When we reached the small stone bridge at the foot of Mount Laohuang,
Lao Mo had already arrived and set up the offering table.
He was currently arranging the incense around the area.
All that was needed was for me to bring the offerings, and we could begin the ritual to invite the Yin messengers...