Running A Cemetery in North America

As soon as they entered the courtyard, Auntie Chai warmly said, "Sit wherever you like. My son and the others won't be back until evening, so don't be shy. I'm the only one at home."

"Thank you, Auntie," Shi Langfei replied with a naive smile.

Sun Yan walked into the main house's corridor and saw on the living room table a statue of Lady Cizhou with six arms on her back.

It was exactly like the one he saw during the parade in Chai Family Village last night, only this was a smaller version.

Obviously, Auntie Chai cherished this Divine Statue greatly. It was covered with a layer of red cloth, surrounded by three incense burners, which were already filled with a large amount of incense ash, indicating a thriving incense fire.

Sun Yan bent forward for a closer look.

The skin of Lady Cizhou was an extraordinary shade of blue, with delicate goldware adorning her wrists.

Beside her crossed legs, a boy and girl were playing on her knees.

The atmosphere was indeed harmonious, but when Sun Yan noticed the faces of this boy and girl, his expression suddenly froze.

Surprisingly, their faces lacked features, replaced by a recessed black hole.

"What are you looking at?"

Suddenly, Auntie Chai walked in from outside the main house and asked.

Sun Yan was about to say something, but Auntie Chai quickly pressed his shoulder and apologized to the Divine Statue on the table, "Lady, please don't blame him. The child is ignorant, please don't be angry.

Young man, do not gaze directly at an Immortal. Have you remembered? Quickly offer incense as an apology to the Lady."

Auntie Chai handed three sticks of incense to Sun Yan, speaking seriously.

"Auntie, what's with those two kids at Lady Cizhou's feet? Why don't they have faces?" Sun Yan asked curiously while lighting and offering the incense.

"Those aren't kids, that's Ah Juan and Ah Zu."

"Who?" Sun Yan asked, puzzled.

"It's a story that's been passed down in our village for a long time. It is said that a very long time ago, there was an old fisherman in the village whose grandchildren, Ah Juan and Ah Zu, were bitten by a sea snake while playing by the sea, and were on the verge of dying. The old fisherman knelt by the sea and prayed to Lady Cizhou, hoping She would reveal Her magic to save his grandchildren.

Moved by the old fisherman's earnest calling, Lady Cizhou finally appeared. She told the old fisherman she could save his grandchildren, but he had to take them to Her Immortal Island.

However, the Immortal Island is not a place for mortals. Mortals entering it will become blind, their faces will decay, but they can gain eternal life and become disciples under the Lady's seat.

The old fisherman did not hesitate to agree, and since then, Lady Cizhou took Ah Juan and Ah Zu back to the Immortal Island. Though they never returned, everyone understood that they had become disciples under the Lady's seat, cultivating on the Immortal Island with Her."

Auntie Chai reverently clasped her hands together and bowed to the Divine Statue on the table, saying most sincerely, "I am already quite advanced in age. If I could go to the Immortal Island and cultivate with the Lady myself, I'd be willing to lose my eyesight and have my face decay."

Sun Yan frowned slightly, feeling that this story sounded more like something related to an Evil God.

What sort of legitimate Immortal requires mortals to become blind and have decaying faces upon visiting? Is this the so-called Grotto Heaven and Blessed Land?

"Auntie Chai, has anyone aside from the old fisherman seen Lady Cizhou?" Sun Yan asked.

"Of course. My son even saw Her while out at sea and nearly set foot on the Lady's Immortal Island! Alas, he couldn't let go of worldly desires and refused to become blind and have his face decay, so he was sent back by the disciples under the Lady's seat along with their fishing boat. Such a regrettable missed chance with immortality." Auntie Chai lamented with a sigh.

Sun Yan felt a glimmer of hope, not expecting such an outcome.

"Auntie, where is the Immortal Island located?"

"The Immortal Island is the Lady's residence; it has no fixed location. Later, my son took the village fishermen out to search for the Immortal Island but could not find it again. It's a chance with immortality, only chosen mortals can set foot on the Island. Asking won't help.

I've scolded my useless child plenty over this. What use are your eyes and face anyway? If you could cultivate by the Lady's side and become an Immortal, it would bring honor and happiness to future generations. Yet, a useless child like him wasted such a chance with immortality."

Listening to Auntie Chai's unwilling ramblings, Sun Yan walked out of the main house.

Just then, he saw Shi Langfei and Gu Xing sitting in the courtyard eating a muskmelon.

Seeing Sun Yan emerge, Shi Langfei called out, "Why were you inside for so long? I saw Auntie Chai chatting with you. What did you talk about?"

"She said her son almost stepped onto the Immortal Island. It seems the Immortal Island mentioned in the mission really exists somewhere in the East Sea. Just finding it might not be easy. I now suspect the Island's location refreshes randomly, meeting it is all about luck."

Sun Yan pulled over a wooden stool and sat down next to the two, speaking seriously.

"It's not a big deal, as long as it's in the East Sea. You just focus on catching fish, and leave the task of finding it to me," Shi Langfei assured, patting his chest confidently.

"Hey, where's Lin Wan? Why isn't she eating melon with you?" Sun Yan asked.

"She's outside the courtyard, playing with dogs."

"Ah!"

At that moment, a sharp scream pierced through, instantly changing Sun Yan's expression; it was Lin Wan's voice.

He rushed out of the courtyard without hesitation, heading in the direction of the scream.

Soon he saw a pair of women's sneakers fallen in the backyard, and a hunchbacked figure swiftly dragging Lin Wan into the dense forest on the back mountain.

In no time, they vanished from sight.

"Damn it," Sun Yan cursed, immediately giving chase.

Close behind, Shi Langfei caught up and quickly retrieved the Centipede Bee Bag, releasing the Centipede Bees across the mountains to track Lin Wan's trail.

Gu Xing scratched his chin puzzled, "The Kitchen God might not be good at Magical Combat, but Lin Wan handling a regular person shouldn't pose any problem. How was she captured so easily?"

Shi Langfei anxiously cursed, "We don't have time for useless thinking!"

"No, I suspect that person is not ordinary. Attacking Lin Wan must have been premeditated."

The complex situation in the Chai Family Village's back mountain far exceeded Sun Yan's expectations—overgrown with wild grass, bizarre trees everywhere.

In those few seconds when Lin Wan disappeared from view, he was already unable to see Lin Wan or that mysterious figure upon trying to catch up.

Sun Yan was indeed not adept in tracking; he didn't have Dahuang or Crow Yidan with him, unable to assist at this moment.

Fortunately, this time, Sun Yan was not alone in the Spirit Realm, fighting alone.

Soon, the buzzing sound of Centipede Bees vibrating filled his ears, searching through the back mountain—controlled by Shi Langfei.

Given the number of Centipede Bees, they should quickly locate Lin Wan.

During this time, Sun Yan didn't idle either. He conjured the Three-Pointed Double-Edged Blade to clear shrubs ahead and walked deeper into the mountain.

...

Nightfall.

Standing on the cliff overlooking the village's lights on the seashore from the back mountain.

Sun Yan sat cross-legged on the ground, eating a steamed bun, feeling somewhat heavy-hearted.

From day until night, they could still not find Lin Wan's whereabouts, and with so much time passed, it was difficult not to entertain unsettling thoughts about Lin Wan possibly encountering misfortune.

"Buzz!"

A Centipede Bee suddenly landed on Sun Yan's shoulder, then flew off in another direction. Sun Yan quickly stood and followed.

Judging by its actions, Shi Langfei must have discovered something new.