Chapter 17: I Don’t Like Girls

Cheng Xiujuan was originally from Qinghua Village in a nearby city.

After her husband died in a cement-pouring accident at a construction site, she was left with only her ailing mother-in-law and an eight-year-old child to care for.

So the burden of supporting the family fell entirely on her shoulders.

Someone from her village introduced her to a waitress job that provided food and accommodation with a base salary of over 6,000 yuan a month—more than 7,000 with commission.

At the beginning of the year, she boarded a long-distance bus to Nancheng.

Because Cheng Xiujuan was good-looking and slender, the boss chose her to be the restaurant’s front desk receptionist.

One day, several customers came to dine at the restaurant.

One of them was Tang Wen.

He took a liking to Cheng Xiujuan’s appearance and gave her a phone number, saying she had the potential to become an actress. He told her their company was currently recruiting extras and minor roles, and if she was interested, she should go try out.

Since the restaurant Cheng Xiujuan worked at was near the film studio and often saw celebrities, she had even heard about Tang Wen from others. So when she called that number and realized it wasn’t him directly, she didn’t suspect anything.

The man told her to go to Huizhongkang Clinic for a physical exam first and then report with the results.

Cheng Xiujuan was confused at first—why would extras need a medical check?

The man explained that some directors cared about health issues and didn’t want extras carrying infectious diseases. So only those with medical reports could be hired.

And more importantly, it had to be from Huizhongkang Clinic.

She didn’t question it. The next morning, Cheng Xiujuan went to the clinic for the check-up.

Little did she know that she would never return.

First, she was drugged and tied to an operating table where one of her kidneys was removed. The next day, she was handed off to human traffickers.

While semi-conscious, she overheard the traffickers planning to sell her to a remote mountain village to become the wife of a mentally disabled man.

Cheng Xiujuan refused, and when they let their guard down, she used all her strength to escape.

But disobedience had its price: she was beaten viciously.

Unexpectedly, the traffickers accidentally beat her to death.

They were used to it—dead bodies didn’t faze them. After confirming she was dead, they dumped her deep in the woods.

That place was their usual dumping ground.

Because the forest was full of wild animals, corpses left there were usually devoured by the next day, not even bones remaining.

So over the years, no one had discovered a thing.

Deep within that forest stood an abandoned shrine once dedicated to the Third Madam.

Although abandoned, the shrine had been worshipped for centuries and still retained traces of divine power.

Cheng Xiujuan was a vulnerable woman, brutally murdered. Her soul carried a deep grudge. And it just so happened that the day she died was the first day of the lunar month—a day when incense offerings and faith energy were especially strong in the living world.

Because of this, she was fortunate enough to be blessed and protected by that lingering divine power.

On her path of vengeance, she encountered many spirits—victims who had also died at the hands of the same black-market trafficking chain.

They were all weak and helpless. Some had even become earthbound spirits, unable to leave the place they died and denied any chance of reincarnation.

Eventually, they willingly let Cheng Xiujuan absorb them, leaving behind only a pair of eyes to attach to her body, waiting for the day they could witness their tormentors die miserably.

So Cheng Xiujuan wasn’t fighting alone.

She was aided by dozens, even hundreds, of spirits.

And she was protected by the goddess of women and children.

Only because of this was she able to kill Lin Fenglan—the one who beat her to death—right in front of so many righteous police officers.

After hearing all this, Chen Rang fell silent.

Indeed, the Three Madams of Lüshan had always been compassionate. They were known as protectors of women and children. Even in an abandoned temple, what little divine power remained would instinctively protect the vulnerable.

Those human traffickers really deserved to die. How many families had they destroyed?

Besides, the underworld had long changed its ways. Even if those people were sent to hell, they would suffer eternal damnation—endless burning in karmic fire, endless pain as their flesh was sliced away day and night.

“…I understand. Thank you, Miss Tu, for the explanation.” Chen Rang politely expressed his thanks.

Tu Shanju shrugged. “You’re welcome. But don’t say I didn’t warn you—you guys better hurry back. Don’t keep the ‘boss’ from the underworld waiting too long.”

Xu Jiangshan blinked, then cupped his hands respectfully. “Thank you, Daoist Tu, for the reminder. We’ll return right away.”

Lin Xiuer had been observing Tu Shanju for a while. She really liked her personality. So, acting like a cheeky rogue, she whistled at her.
“Lin Xiuer, from Shenxiao Sect. Wanna be friends?”

Tu Shanju turned to look at her, thought seriously for a moment, and then nodded.
“Sure. Knife-Barterer, Tu Shanju. I’d be happy to be your friend. But just so we’re clear—I have a fiancé, and I don’t like girls.”

“…,” Lin Xiuer silently gave her a thumbs-up. “Respect!”

The two exchanged contact info, and the trio departed.

Tu Shanju was about to leave as well when Zhang Xuefeng stopped her.

“Something wrong?” she asked.

The matter of Cheng Xiujuan would be handed over to the criminal investigation team and the Field Office. That trafficking chain would be wiped out soon. She didn’t know why Zhang Xuefeng was seeking her out.

She didn’t bother guessing—she asked directly. Less trouble that way.

Zhang Xuefeng scratched his head. “I… I want to buy another knife from you.”

He wasn’t sure if his old man would still oppose his return to Nancheng. Who doesn’t miss home? And over the years, his mother had secretly called him more and more. His grandparents were getting older. He could only visit briefly during vacation time.

Tu Shanju understood. “Ah, so that’s what it’s about. One thousand yuan.”

Zhang Xuefeng transferred the money immediately, and Tu Shanju handed him a nail clipper.

“You think this transfer back to Nancheng is purely a promotion? Just go home after work tonight and get some rest.”

After saying that, Tu Shanju turned and left.

Zhang Xuefeng was stunned.

Suddenly, he remembered something.

About six months ago, his mom started video-calling him more frequently.

From once every two weeks to once every three days now.

And during those calls, he often heard someone coughing in the background.

Thinking about it now… that must’ve been his dad.

“Hmph. Old man—if you miss me, couldn’t you call yourself?”

Though he said that aloud, a wide smile spread across his face—so wide it nearly reached his ears.

He lowered his head, looked at the small nail clipper in his palm, and clenched it tightly.

From a distance, Song Guogang called out to him.

He quickly turned back toward the villa and returned to work.

The sooner he finished work, the sooner he could go home!