This Taoist priest is so unprofessional!

Upon hearing this, Wang Xiaoer's heart sank.

Seeing his uncle's worried face, he felt worried too.

In fact, Li Yuanchao was also worried. Many families in Xiaxi Village had their ancestral graves on that mountain. Today was the Ghost Festival, and people came to the village committee early in the morning to ask about it, but he persuaded them all to go back.

But ancestor worship is a momentous event. You can stop one or two people, but you can't stop the whole village. The villagers' resentment is about to burst forth.

Wang Xiaoer's arrival provided him with a convenient excuse.

Wang Xiaoer seemed to have noticed Li Yuanchao's predicament. He gritted his teeth and imitated Zhang Chen, forcing a face that looked worse than crying.

"Uncle, to tell you the truth, I had a dream last night."

His voice was low, tinged with a mysterious and uncertain tone.

"Oh? What did you dream about?" Li Yuanchao's attention was indeed drawn.

"I dreamt of my great-grandfather and my grandfather, both of them standing in the mountains, all wet and cold, saying they were startled by something. They told me that I had to go and burn some paper money for them and send them some clothes today no matter what."

Wang Xiaoer's nose tingled and his eyes reddened as he spoke.

"Didn't your great-grandfather die when your father was young?" Li Yuanchao suddenly asked.

"Ah? Oh! My grandfather introduced him to me, saying that he was my great-grandfather." At this moment, Wang Xiaoer seemed to be possessed by Zhang Chen, and naturally covered up the story.

"No, your great-grandfather didn't do anything wrong back then, did he? Why hasn't he been reincarnated yet? The efficiency of things happening down here is really..." Li Yuanchao wanted to say something more, but then he remembered it was the Ghost Festival and immediately slapped his mouth, "Pah, pah, pah, I didn't say anything, don't be offended!"

Wang Xiaoer was speechless for a moment, then quickly changed the subject, "Uncle, why do you care about these things? They're not the point."

"As you know, our Wang family has only one son per generation, and I'm the only one left. If we don't offer incense during the Ghost Festival, and if our ancestors suffer in the afterlife, I... I just can't bear it!"

"Just like you said, it's not that they're inefficient, it's that my great-grandfather and his family are short of money and have no way to ask for help."

These words might sound like nonsense to city dwellers.

But in places like Kaoshan Village and Xiaxi Village, it is the most compelling reason.

Especially considering the special circumstances of the Wang family's generations of single-lineage sons, everyone in the neighboring villages knows about it. If the family line were to end, it would be an extremely unfilial act.

After hearing this, Li Yuanchao slapped his thigh.

"Oh dear! This dream of yours... this is very important!"

The hesitation on his face vanished, replaced by an unquestionable resolve.

"When people are alive, they follow the law; when they're dead, they follow tradition! This matter can't be delayed!"

He stood up and paced around the yard, as if he had made up his mind.

"You wait, leave this to me! It's only right and proper that I do you a favor! I'll go talk to them right now!"

After Li Yuanchao finished speaking, he picked up his straw hat, put it on his head, and hurriedly left the courtyard.

"Uncle, please slow down!"

Wang Xiaoer followed behind, a huge weight lifted from his heart.

The two walked all the way to the entrance of the village.

A long cordon blocked the way, and the roof lights of several police cars flashed silently, creating a solemn atmosphere.

Several police officers are persuading some villagers to leave.

Li Yuanchao walked straight over and revealed his identity.

"Hello comrade, I am Li Yuanchao, the village head of Xiaxi Village. I'm looking for your person in charge."

A middle-aged policeman who looked like the captain walked over; he had a square face and sharp eyes.

"Hello, old Party Secretary, I'm Wang Zhenguo from the Criminal Investigation Team." Captain Wang shook hands with him, his tone polite but his stance clear. "I know your villagers have a tradition of ancestor worship, but this situation is special and the case is serious. The entire mountain must be sealed off. Please understand and cooperate."

Li Yuanchao nodded repeatedly.

"We understand, and we will fully cooperate with the government's work."

He abruptly changed the subject and pulled Wang Xiaoer in front of him.

"Captain Wang, but this child's situation is truly exceptional."

He recounted in detail, embellishing the story, how Wang Xiaoer had been the only son in his family for generations and how he had nightmares about his ancestors' dreams.

Li Yuanchao had an inexplicable talent for speaking, and he managed to turn a simple request for ancestor worship into a major event concerning filial piety, family tradition, and even the mindset of a young person for a lifetime.

Captain Wang frowned as he listened.

Having handled cases for many years, the most troublesome thing for him is dealing with cases that involve local customs and sentiments.

A blanket ban on entry appears inhumane and can easily escalate conflicts.

But if we let people in, and they happen to damage the scene or something else goes wrong, no one can bear the responsibility.

"Old Party Secretary, this isn't a decision I can make alone," Wang Zhenguo said, looking troubled.

"Captain Wang, how about this?" Li Yuanchao quickly said, "How about letting him and this young Taoist priest he invited go in together?"

"This child has suffered so much. Now that he's finally achieved some success, the first thing he thinks of is inviting a Taoist priest to perform a ritual. We can't let his filial piety go unappreciated, can we?"

"I assure you, they will never go near that collapse area you mentioned. They will just burn some paper money at their ancestral grave halfway up the mountain and then come down."

He held up one finger.

"One hour! Give them one hour. I guarantee it in my name as the village chief—they won't cause you any trouble!"

Wang Zhenguo pondered for a long time. He looked at Wang Xiaoer's genuine anxiety and then at the highly respected Li Yuanchao beside him.

He took out his phone, walked to the side, and whispered a few words.

A moment later, he came back.

"Alright."

Wang Zhenguo relented.

"You must be out within one hour. Also, that mountain hollow to the north has been marked as a 'geological subsidence area,' and you are absolutely not allowed to go near it, or you will face the consequences!"

"Oh! Thank you, Captain Wang! Thank you so much!"

Li Yuanchao and Wang Xiaoer thanked him repeatedly.

Things went surprisingly smoothly.

Wang Xiaoer went back and called Zhang Chen. Carrying the incense, candles, and paper money they had prepared beforehand, they crossed the police line under the guidance of a police officer.

The air at Coffin Mountain is moist and fresh in the early morning.

The two successfully entered the forest and walked along the familiar path towards the mountainside.

Ever since Zhang Chen helped him break the Ten Generations of Impoverishment Formation, the aura of the entire graveyard has changed.

I used to feel that this place was a bit cold and gloomy, but now when I stand here, I only feel that it is open, bright and warm.

Wang Xiaoer arranged the offerings one by one in front of the grave.

He did not go to his father's newly disturbed grave first.

Instead, they started from the tomb of the first ancestor, which was the most remote but also the highest in elevation.

He lit three incense sticks and respectfully placed them in front of the grave.

Then came burning paper money and kowtowing.

His movements were meticulous, and his attitude utterly devout. He showed no disrespect for his ancestors who lay buried beneath the earth, despite his current immense fortune.

He knew that without these ancestors, there would be no Wang Xiaoer.

One, two, three...

He offered incense, burned paper money, and kowtowed to each ancestral grave in order of seniority and rank.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled patterns of light onto him.

Zhang Chen stood not far away, watching quietly.

He didn't interfere or make a sound.

This is Wang Xiaoer's family matter, and also his own spiritual practice.

His purpose in coming here was simple: he had participated in breaking the deadlock before, and this time he came to deepen the cause and effect, and maybe he could also get some of this heaven-defying luck.

Finally, Wang Xiaoer arrived at the last grave.