"Hua Chu, my precious daughter, wake up and look at your father! I was wrong, truly wrong! I shouldn't have pressured you like that!" Lord De'an's face, etched with wrinkles, was streaked with tears of grief. "But that poor teacher, he's just no good! You're in this state, and he hasn't even come to see you once."
Elias Graves listened quietly from the side for a while, having roughly pieced together the situation.
He slowly walked forward and said in a tone of extreme regret, "Lord De'an, Miss Hua Chu was so pure and kind, like the finest jade in this world. It is a cruel twist of fate that she encountered that beast in human clothing."
Lord De'an heard the voice and slowly turned to look at him. His voice was as hoarse as a worn-out bellows as he asked wearily, "Who are you? I have never seen you before. Why are you here?"
Elias Graves respectfully clasped his hands. "Lord De'an, I am Elias Graves, a disciple of Cloud Retainer from Mt. Aocang. I wander this mortal world to bring peace to the souls of the deceased."
However, upon hearing this, Lord De'an's face changed drastically, as if a powder keg had been lit. He shouted harshly, "Get out! What nonsense are you spouting? My daughter Hua Chu is only sleeping! She's just tired, she'll wake up tomorrow morning. Don't speak such gibberish here and disturb my daughter!"
As he spoke, he waved his arms, his emotions spiraling almost out of control.
Elias Graves was speechless, thinking to himself: *If your daughter really did wake up, she'd probably scare you to death.*
His expression remained calm, and his tone was even as he said, "Lord De'an, my Senior Sister can command the element of Cryo to prevent the young miss from further… indignity. And as a disciple of an adeptus, I will ensure the young miss departs with dignity."
With that, he turned and walked out of the hall without any hesitation.
Just as he was about to leave the hall, Lord De'an's dry voice came from behind him: "Have your Senior Sister come. As for you, there is no need to return for now."
Elias Graves nodded slightly and replied calmly, "Very well."
Then, he left Lord De'an's mansion, which was filled with grief and the stench of decay.
He walked quickly along the familiar streets, heading straight back to his own shop.
Elias Graves first went to the bathroom to wash off the smell of decay.
After bathing, he changed into a clean set of clothes and then walked to the closed door of Shenhe's small room.
"Senior Sister, I need your help with something," he said, his voice soft and pleading.
A moment later, the door slowly opened.
The frosty and aloof Shenhe appeared before him, like a snow lotus growing on the peak of a celestial mountain, otherworldly and graceful.
Her fair face was like a sculpture of ice and snow, exuding a coldness that kept others at a distance.
She looked at him quietly, her red lips parting to utter a single word: "Speak." Her voice was like a clear mountain spring, crisp and cold.
Hearing her, Elias Graves gathered his thoughts and recounted what he had seen and heard at Lord De'an's mansion that morning.
When Shenhe heard how Lord De'an, even in such circumstances, still clung to the hope that his daughter would miraculously come back to life, she was visibly moved.
A look of reminiscence flashed through her deep eyes.
Then, without another word, she moved with light steps and walked straight outside.
Seeing this, Elias Graves quickly hurried forward to lead the way for Shenhe.
A quarter of an hour later, they arrived at Lord De'an's mansion.
Elias Graves stopped at the entrance, letting Shenhe go in alone.
Before long, a flow of Cryo energy converged within the courtyard, and the heavy stench of decay completely dissipated.
Not long after, Shenhe walked out of the courtyard.
Her expression was still cold. She didn't say anything to Elias Graves, merely walking silently ahead.
Elias Graves hurriedly followed her.
Unlike usual, this time Shenhe did not return to the Adeptal Rites shop. Instead, she walked westward, passing through the bustling streets until they reached the somewhat desolate suburbs.
Shenhe stopped in front of a completely dilapidated house.
The walls of the house were mottled, and the roof tiles were broken and incomplete.
Weeds grew rampant on the stone steps in front of the house, swaying wildly in the wind.
And before the steps, a few clusters of pure white Linghua Orchids swayed gently in the breeze.
Shenhe lowered her head slightly, her gaze fixed on the orchids.
Elias Graves stood silently beside her. He could understand Shenhe's feelings at that moment; in his past life, he had often stood alone before a tombstone.
The sun gradually set, the golden-red disc casting its last warmth upon the world.
Shenhe suddenly broke the silence. She turned her head slightly to look at Elias Graves and asked softly, "Junior Brother, do you think what Lord De'an is doing is right?"
Elias Graves pondered for a moment, then replied seriously, "The dead have passed; one cannot force what is impossible, or it will only bring more pain to the living. However, considering Lord De'an's situation, it is understandable. No one should blame or stop him."
"Why?" Shenhe's emotions wavered slightly.
Elias Graves slowly explained, "Lord De'an and his wife had two daughters, and their family of four lived a happy life. In a tragic accident ten years ago, his wife passed away. Five years ago, his eldest daughter died of illness. Now, his most beloved youngest daughter has taken her own life by jumping into a well. How can he bear all this?"
After hearing his explanation, a hint of sympathy appeared in Shenhe's eyes. "Junior Brother, please do what you can to help him."
Elias Graves chuckled lightly. "Don't worry, Senior Sister, I've already thought of a plan. I'm acquainted with Dr. Baizhu of Bubu Pharmacy. I'll have him prescribe a few potent virility-boosting supplements for Lord De'an.
If Lord De'an has a late-life child, he'll naturally move on from his grief.
If that doesn't work, I can always take care of him in his old age."
The sadness and sympathy in Shenhe's eyes vanished instantly. She shot Elias Graves a glare, then turned and walked away briskly without looking back.
This time, Elias Graves didn't try to catch up with her. Instead, he went to Wanmin Restaurant to get a hearty meal to go.
By the time he leisurely returned home, he saw Mountain Shaper sitting impatiently at the dining table as soon as he walked in.
Elias Graves smiled and placed the takeout on the table, his eyes full of teasing. "Uncle Mountain Shaper, you've come at a very inopportune time today."
Mountain Shaper's old face flushed, but he retorted righteously, "Hmph, this adeptus is your uncle. What's wrong with mooching a meal off you? It's your honor, boy."
He wasn't wrong. Mountain Shaper had a proud nature and few friends in this world.
But for some reason, he and Elias Graves hit it off. The two of them always had endless topics to talk about, and over time, they became friends despite their age difference.
Seeing this, Elias Graves didn't continue to tease him.
He turned and went to the wine cellar, returning shortly with a pot of wine. He and Mountain Shaper began to eat and chat as usual.
During the meal, Elias Graves put down his chopsticks. Mountain Shaper asked, "Uncle, after a person dies, where does the soul go? Is there really such a thing as reincarnation in this world?"
As soon as he spoke, there was a slight noise from Shenhe's quiet room.
Mountain Shaper had just taken a large swig of wine. Hearing the question, he let out a loud burp and then boomed, "What nonsense reincarnation? After a person dies, their soul dissipates into the world within seven days. How could there be such a thing as reincarnation?
Of course, in very rare and special cases, a soul can become a ghost, but even then, ghosts don't exist for long. They will eventually dissipate too.
You're in the funeral business, boy. Don't you even understand these basic principles?"
Elias Graves gave an embarrassed smile and scratched his head. "Uncle, of course I know all that. It's just that I recently heard that in the region of Natlan, the dead can be revived."