Chapter 16: The Soul Reaches the Waters of Heaven

Soul, return.

The scene of Yu Chengye, eldest son of the head branch of the Yu clan, welcoming the spirit back was truly grand.

As Yang Can and his group crossed the winding mountain road into the territory of Tianshui, the Yu family’s men came to meet them.

They had brought eight horses pulling a large carriage, delivering a replacement coffin for Yu Chengye.

The previous coffin, strictly speaking, was merely a simple box made from cart planks.

Now, this was a genuine coffin, crafted from nanmu wood, four inches thick, overlaid with gold leaf and decorated with cloud patterns.

The outermost layer was a single slab of green stone carved with the four mythical beasts and various auspicious motifs.

The welcoming entourage had also prepared a vast amount of funeral supplies. This group, originally a wedding procession, no longer had to awkwardly wear ceremonial clothes while carrying the spirit.

Along the entire route, white mourning cloths fluttered.

Every village, manor, and city was draped in mourning attire, with altars set up along the way.

Village chiefs, estate owners, and city lords all arranged incense tables and fine wine, leading the local dignitaries and elders to greet the return of the eldest son’s coffin.

Heads, elders, and stewards of the various Yu family branches scattered throughout Tianshui, along with powerful figures, literary scholars, eminent monks, Taoist masters, gentry, and merchants from all directions...

They were all hastening toward Phoenix Mountain.

These people encompassed nearly all the influential and powerful individuals within the Yu clan’s domain.

This was still due to the suddenness of the event, leaving no time to notify a wider circle.

Otherwise, other noble clans would have sent representatives to pay their respects upon such an important figure’s death.

It was not the first time Yang Can had come to Phoenix Mountain Manor; he had accompanied Yu Chengye before.

Yet, upon returning and witnessing such a magnificent scene, he could not help but feel a solemn chill in his heart.

Such opulence was itself a form of power, a show of influence.

The wealthy might have the money, but they were not foolish enough to waste it recklessly.

This extravagance was deliberately crafted to project an aura—one that commands reverence and fear.

Authority could not be established without such dazzling prominence.

Having lived two lives, Yang Can was worldly and well-traveled; even he was moved by the grandeur. How then could illiterate commoners not feel awe and respect?

This was only the Yu clan, the weakest of the eight noble families in Longshan, yet their display rivaled that of princes and dukes.

What then would the scene be for the top three clans?

And what if it were the ruler of the realm?

A true gentleman ought to be thus!

Yang Can was naturally easygoing, not because of innate benevolence, but because in both his past and present lives, he had never found an opportunity to nurture ambition.

But this time was different. Tu Momo’s sudden idea had created a deadly threat but also an opportunity.

If at first Yang Can had felt like a duck forced onto the chopping block, now he intended to seize the chance proactively.

Unlike Yang Can, upon entering the Yu family’s territory, Leopard Head Cheng Dakuan was filled with dread.

As long as the secret between Yang Can and the young mistress remained undisclosed, he would not face death.

But Leopard Head Cheng Dakuan was now on the brink of disaster. He had done many reckless things and tried desperately to make amends but was unsure if it would suffice.

Nervously, Cheng Dakuan leaned close to Yang Can and whispered, “Master Yang, these days I can neither eat nor sleep. I keep worrying about how the clan head will punish me...”

His eyes bloodshot, voice hoarse, he asked, “Master Yang, you’re a scholar and understand such matters better than me. Tell me, how do you think the clan head will deal with me?”

Yang Can replied, “Dakuan, have you seen this grand funeral procession?

When the noble die, they leave behind dignity and influence.

In life, their gates are lined with spears; in death, their tombstones rise like clouds. Such is the order of Heaven and Earth.”

Leopard Head looked confused. “Master Yang, could you say something I can understand?”

Yang Can said, “It means that someone like Yu clan’s firstborn son cannot die quietly.

Someone must pay the price so that the noble’s death is not in vain. Do you see?”

Leopard Head gritted his teeth. “That one to pay the price... could it be me?”

Yang Can nodded. “It must be you and only you.”

Leopard Head’s face suddenly turned pale. “Master Yang, you said that if I follow your instructions, there would be a chance to survive. So...”

Yang Can hurried to reassure him, “Don’t be anxious. The Yu family’s spirit-welcoming party has arrived but did not arrest you on the spot. They allowed you to travel with the procession.

What does this mean? It means our efforts were not in vain—you have seized that sliver of hope.”

Leopard Head nervously licked his cracked lips, which were covered with blisters.

“Master Yang, what should I do next?”

“Wait.”

“Wait for what?”

“Wait for the clan head to summon me.”

Leopard Head nearly cried, “Master Yang, I’m illiterate; please say something even a ‘blind man’ can understand.”

Yang Can said, “If the clan head summons me, it means he needs people who aren’t on good terms with the Suo family to serve him.

So, as long as he summons me, you have a chance to live!”

...

Not long after entering Phoenix Mountain, there was an orchard on a side hill.

The orchard also raised many poultry to supply the manor with vegetables, fruits, meat, and eggs.

For now, this orchard was temporarily converted into a mortuary, where the spirit rested.

Yu family members would come here to welcome the spirit, dressed in white mourning cloth, solemnly escorting it up the mountain.

The person presiding over the welcoming ceremony was Yu Huanhu, second uncle to Yu Chengye.

Yu Huanhu was Yu Chengye’s blood uncle, head of the second branch of the elder house in this generation.

As an elder, it was not strictly necessary for him to personally descend the mountain to greet the spirit.

But since Yu Chengye was the Yu clan’s heir and eldest son—akin to the crown prince—and Yu Huanhu was like a prince, it was not unusual for the uncle to meet the spirit.

Suo Chanzhi, Yu Chengye’s widow, publicly cut a lock of her black hair and placed it inside the coffin.

With this ritual, she completed her confirmation as the eldest son's widow of the Yu senior branch, a status no one could alter.

The spirit carriage was draped with a nine-foot-long memorial banner. The large characters “Yu Family’s Legitimate Eldest Son Chengye’s Remains” covered the entire coffin.

Upon seeing the coffin, Yu Huanhu’s expression darkened.

Though the true cause of Yu Chengye’s death had yet to spread, rumors were rampant.

All these rumors branded him as the murderer’s victim.

Of course, Yu Huanhu wished for Yu Chengye’s death, but the assassination attempt during his betrothal carried tremendous repercussions.

After careful consideration, Yu Huanhu dared not act; yet, Yu Chengye still died.

He had done nothing but was forced to bear the blame. How could his mood be good?

“Suo clan of the Yu family, greetings, uncle!”

The uncle himself came to welcome the spirit; as the widow, Suo Chanzhi naturally stepped forward to pay respects.

Dressed in mourning, the young widow bowed deeply to Yu Huanhu, tears glistening at her lashes, her delicate face filled with sorrow, looking pitiable indeed.

Yu Huanhu remained unmoved, but the younger generation of the Yu family peers and those below were utterly captivated.

This widow, with her fragrant bones and slender waist, was clearly a celestial maiden in mourning robes.

Look at her snow-white mourning dress, her loosely styled cloud-like hair, her pale but beautiful face, tears glistening on her lashes...

She truly broke one’s heart.

That Chengye boy was indeed blessed...

Alas, such blessings were fleeting!

It was a pity such a fine mountain, water, and farmland would be abandoned and left to waste. Just thinking of it made one’s chest tighten unbearably.

“Niece-in-law, please rise. Please accept my condolences.”

Yu Huanhu sighed deeply, steadied himself, and raised a hand to support her.

After comforting Suo Chanzhi, Yu Huanhu arranged the ceremony for escorting the spirit up the mountain.

The spirit carriage was replaced with a six-horse carriage, led by Yu Chengye’s youngest brother Yu Chenglin holding the “Merit Report” banner.

Following them, members of the Yu family within five degrees of mourning, peers and juniors alike, dressed in “cut mourning” and “uniform mourning” attire, accompanied the carriage, weeping bitterly as they ascended the mountain.

Throughout this process, Yang Can was utterly invisible, with no chance to step forward.

Since entering Tianshui, the number of people around Suo Chanzhi had increased, and Yang Can no longer had the opportunity to approach her.

In the busyness, no one seemed to remember this Master Yang.

Thus, Yang Can was not handed back to the Yu family side; Suo Chanzhi herself was preoccupied and entrusted him to Qingmei’s care.

“Here, you’ll stay here these days. Don’t wander around, understand?”

Qingmei led Yang Can into the first courtyard of Yu Chengye’s residence and into a side room.

As the Yu family’s heir, Yu Chengye had a large independent estate at Phoenix Mountain Manor.

This estate, on the eastern side of the manor, was part of the whole but relatively independent.

It was a three-courtyard compound with high walls and its own gates.

Even if cut off from the entire manor, it would still be a complete three-courtyard estate.

The side room was quite spacious, three rooms wide, with two side chambers flanking the main hall.

“Thank you for your care, Miss Qingmei,” Yang Can nodded politely, quite pleased with this “prison cell.”

The treatment was not worse than when he worked as Yu Chengye’s master.

“Humph, what care? Anyway, someone will bring your meals three times a day. Just stay put and don’t go wandering about,” Qingmei said.

Seeing him polite toward her made Qingmei feel awkward all over.

Qingmei’s feelings for Yang Can were very complicated.

On one hand, she was Suo Chanzhi’s maid and close as sisters.

Whenever she heard Suo Chanzhi being bullied by Yang Can, she felt a shared hatred.

In her logic, if you bully my mistress, it’s like bullying me.

But on the other hand, precisely because she was Suo Chanzhi’s maid, she easily put herself in her place.

Once she did, her feelings toward Yang Can became strange and inexplicable.

So now, alone with Yang Can, she felt inexplicably flustered.

When Yang Can mentioned “care,” Qingmei hastened to clarify as if afraid of being misunderstood.

“Enough, enough. You just rest well. I... I have to go attend to my mistress.”

In a flurry, Qingmei found an excuse and hurried out, as if there were a heart-stealing ghost hidden in the room.