Inheriting a Taoist temple, the story begins with Wu Zetian offering incense.

Chapter 64 Finding Life-Saving Money at the Hospital? [Seeking Monthly Tickets]

After finishing his remark, Zhou Yi noticed the ambulance driver's hesitant expression and asked with a smile:

"What's wrong, Master Hu? Did something happen?"

The driver, named Hu Lijun, was in his forties. He first looked back to make sure the leaders of the mental hospital weren't paying attention to him, then pulled a brown paper envelope from his pocket and said mysteriously:
"I found this in the bathroom of the city's mental hospital. There was 1,500 yuan inside, but I didn't dare take it, and I couldn't bear to throw it away..."

Zhou Yi asked with a smile:

"What? Did you run into counterfeit money?"

Hu Lijun didn't answer, but instead turned the envelope over, revealing a line of handwritten small print:

[Borrow three years of your lifespan, then donate or put it in a donation box, and your entire family will be wiped out!!!]

After reading Zhou Yi, he immediately laughed:
"You're offering 1,500 yuan for three years of someone's life, which is just over one yuan a day on average. Has this price been approved by the price bureau?"

I'd seen stories about finding money meant for longevity online a few times before, and I always thought they were jokes. I never imagined it actually happened in real life.

Hu Lijun asked tremblingly:

"Master, may I spend this money?"

Zhou Yi smiled and glanced at him:
"What's wrong with spending it? This stuff is something that exists whether you believe in it or not. Spend it boldly. If borrowing lifespan were that easy, the whole world would have been in chaos long ago."

Capable people borrow life from heaven and earth, from the gods. You borrow life from an innocent passerby and even cast such a huge curse. Can you withstand the consequences of the curse's backlash?

After saying that, Zhou Yi was about to drive away when he noticed Hu Lijun's conflicted expression and couldn't help but say:
"Nothing was wrong at first, but if you start being paranoid, something might happen... Here's what we'll do, I'll exchange the money for you, and you can keep this money."

Zhou Yi turned around and reached out his hand. Wu Meiniang, who was in the passenger seat, quickly handed him a cloth bag embroidered with a Tai Chi symbol.

He took out his wallet, counted out 1,500 yuan and handed it to Hu Lijun, while also taking the envelope with the curse that read "May your whole family die" in his hand.

"Alright, any curses will only come at me, they won't affect you."

The ghost-raising site behind the hospital still needs to be investigated, but Zhou Yi can't just wander around there all day, so he plans to build a relationship with Hu Lijun and guide the driver to gather intelligence.

Hu Lijun was a man of principle; he immediately counted out five hundred and handed it to Zhou Yi.
"Master, this is my consultation fee... Can we add each other on WeChat?"

Zhou Yi offered to help him exchange money, which moved him deeply. So he set aside 500 yuan as a consultation fee and gave it to Zhou Yi, hoping to add him as a friend so that he wouldn't have to be suspicious and scare himself unnecessarily if he had similar questions in the future.

Zhou Yi took out his phone, added Hu Lijun as a friend, asked for his name and birthday, and gave him a reminder:
"Your recent fortune favors water, so you can go for a walk by the water when you have some free time."

"Yes, Master, thank you for reminding me."

After saying goodbye to the anxious driver, Zhou Yi drove back to Yunwu Town.

On the way, Wu Meiniang looked at the words on the envelope and said:
"This is the first time I've heard of borrowing lifespan. Could it be something a mentally ill person wrote down?"

This statement reminded Zhou Yi:
"The online stories about life-extending happen in regular hospitals, usually in hematology, oncology, or ICU wards... It's rare to see this in psychiatric hospitals."

He glanced at the words on the envelope again. Although the handwriting was a bit messy, the strokes were steady and the size of the characters was uniform. It was clear that the person was a cultured person who wrote often.

A cultured person who frequently writes in the hospital... A thought flashed through Zhou Yi's mind:
"Could this envelope have been left there by a doctor at the hospital... If doctors, who are supposed to be saving lives, are doing this kind of thing, it's a bit much."

It's understandable for a critically ill patient to do this, perhaps because they're desperate and seeking any treatment, but for a doctor to do this, especially in a mental hospital, shows a complete lack of medical ethics.

Wu Meiniang asked:
What should we do with the envelope? Just throw it away?

Zhou Yi shook his head:

"Now that it's in my hands, I can't just sit idly by. When I get back, I'll take the envelope to the statue of Wang Lingguan and burn it. Those who spread curses should be dealt with by Wang Lingguan, who oversees the Three Realms."

Normally, one wouldn't interfere with such a curse, but recalling Hu Lijun's terrified expression, Zhou Yi felt it was better to intervene. If the other party threw out a lot of envelopes, it would frighten many people and indirectly affect several families. Arriving in Yunwu Town, Zhou Yi bought five jin of fresh noodles and three jin of pork belly, intending to make a braised noodle dish with green beans from the mountain.

The reason he bought so much was because he was worried that if Tom Cruise suddenly came over, there wouldn't be enough food.

When they arrived at the mountain, they actually saw Chen Tang holding half a watermelon and showing it off. He must have just taken a shower, as he was wearing the basketball jersey and shorts that he had "borrowed" from Zhou Yi last time. There were also two small crispy cone wrappers in the trash can next to him.

Clearly, even Tom Cruise, known for his relentless pursuit of justice, couldn't resist the allure of the crispy cone.

Seeing Zhou Yi and Wu Meiniang approach, Chen Tang stood up and said:

"You're finally back. I have to leave right away after we finish eating. A group of bandits from different ethnic groups suddenly attacked Chigu City. I led a night raid and captured quite a few people. Old Gan is still interrogating them. If their stronghold isn't too far away, we'll eliminate this menace and earn some military merit."

Zhou Yi took the noodles and meat he had bought out of the car and asked in confusion:

"You weren't the one who led those people there?"

"No, I did have that plan, but I wanted to get back to Chang'an as soon as possible to argue with Kuang Heng. I didn't plan to stay in the Western Regions for too long."

If that's the case, then the foreign tribes of the Western Regions should really thank Kuang Heng.

After listening to Chen Tang's account of the entire process, Wu Zetian analyzed:
"The general devised a plan to take away the Wusun prince, Cilimi. The harassing tribes might be related to Wusun. The general can investigate this aspect when he returns."

A smart man like Chen Tang understands immediately:
"Thank you for the reminder, Your Majesty. When we get back, we'll strip those alien races naked and bury them in the scorching sand. They'll either have to tell the truth or be dried into jerky and displayed outside Chigu City to intimidate all sides."

Wu Zetian rolled up her sleeves, preparing to go to the vegetable garden to pick green beans:
"General, please do not call me that. People in this world call me Wu Zetian. If you do not mind, you may call me by that name."

The title "Empress" is too inappropriate. "Meiniang" is a term used by close relatives. So after much thought, it is better to use the name Wu Zetian, even though it was a posthumous title she was given.

The green beans were picked, Zhou Yi had cut the meat, and all sorts of side dishes were prepared.

Soon, the aroma of meat wafted from the kitchen. Chen Tang threw the clean watermelon rind into the trash can, washed his face, and was just about to peel some garlic for his braised noodles when Wu Meiniang told him about Huo Qubing's arrival.

This general, renowned throughout the Western Regions, was so excited he almost dropped the bowl he was using to peel garlic:
"Is it really Huo Qubing? When will he come next? I need to set a date and have a proper meal with him... Sealing the wolf and residing in the capital has always been my ambition. I would be willing to give up my salary for the rest of my life just to see him."

The fact that the money-grubbing general could say something like that shows how much the Champion Marquis means to Tom Cruise.

Zhou Yi put the noodles on to simmer, went outside the kitchen, took the towel Wu Meiniang handed him to wipe his hands, and asked Chen Tang:

"What are you going to talk to Huo Qubing about when you meet him?"

"Tell him about how Sima Qian slandered him in the historical records, and also mention the whole process of how his brother deposed the emperor, wielded immense power, and ultimately led to the extermination of the Huo clan."

Brother, don't make it sound like he led his troops to surrender to the Xiongnu... Zhou Yi said:
"After Liu Fuling died, Liu He only received a notice to become emperor, and he recklessly abducted women along the way. He also arbitrarily bestowed positions such as the Nine Ministers and Prefects upon his relatives and friends. If such an emperor were to take power, it would be a tragedy for the Han Dynasty... I think Huo Guang did the right thing. If he felt that the emperor was not suitable, he should quickly find a successor. He just happened to find Liu Ju's grandson, Liu Bingyi. This is a good thing for the Han Dynasty."

After hearing the history between Emperor Wu of Han and Emperor Xuan of Han, Huo Qubing would most likely not have any reaction. Instead, he would probably praise his younger brother for being more decisive, while Liu Che would be more likely to break down.

All those plans he made in his later years were to mitigate the impact of Liu Ju's suicide, but the throne ultimately fell to Liu Ju's descendants... It was all for nothing.

While the two were chatting, Wu Meiniang, carrying the empty envelope with the words "The whole family is dead" written on it, gracefully walked to the Haotian Palace. She first lit an incense stick, and then, following Zhou Yi's instructions, burned the envelope in front of the offering table until it turned to ashes.

Just as I finished doing all that, a gust of wind blew in from outside, clearing away all the ashes from the burning envelope.

Taoist guardian deities who protect mountains, the great spirit official who oversees the heavens, the celestial venerable one who responds to thunder and lightning, and the king spirit official who bestows grace and kindness—all are accepting orders!

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Second update delivered, please vote with monthly tickets, brothers!

(End of this chapter)