Huh? Isn't this an adventure kingdom building game?!-Chapter 57: Soul, Return

Ji Xiuxiang looked at him coldly through the light shield and motioned for the Yin Warrior to open the coffin.

When Jiang Yuan discovered the body in the grass, it was already unrecognizable, the clothes torn to shreds. Now, after being buried and dug up with additional natural decay, its features were even more indistinguishable.

"Is this our Changgui?" The old lady leaned on her cane, approached with a look of sorrow, and paused, seeing the decaying corpse in the coffin, "Was Changgui this fat? Perhaps there’s a mistake?"

"The corpse is too decayed to recognize, but since there is a body, perhaps we can try the soul-calling. We couldn’t summon Changgui’s soul before, so let’s try calling this corpse’s soul and see what comes."

Ji Xiuxiang stiffly bowed to Jiang Yuan, "Please trouble the gentleman to wait a moment longer, we need to verify the identity."

He nodded in response, waiting to verify the identity, grab the reward, and leave.

Examining the stone house, which looked even more eerie under the night, he pondered about the papermen, paper cranes, and soul-calling—these people surely made a living off the Underworld. Yet in this wilderness, where do they find customers?

While pondering this, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were already prepared.

Ji Xiuxiang held the Soul-Calling Banner, pacing around the coffin, chanting; the old woman positioned a life-sized, meticulously crafted paperman.

"O soul, return... O soul, return..."

In the chilling chants of Ji Xiuxiang, mixed with the ethereal sound of an unknown magical artifact being struck by the old woman, it spread far on the night wind.

After some time, just when Jiang Yuan was getting drowsy from the monotonous repetition of the low voice, a sudden fierce wind arose in the courtyard.

The wind, strangely swirling, rushed towards the paperman. As it subsided, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law stopped the ritual, eyes fixed on the paperman.

"Creak~ Creak~"

The summoned soul, evidently not yet accustomed to the paperman’s body, slowly swayed its neck and even blinked its eyes.

"Mother, Xiang’Er, I worried you." The paperman’s bright red mouth opened and closed, emitting the voice of a young man.

The two women, hearing the familiar voice, immediately burst into tears, "Where on earth did you go? Even the Immortal Lady couldn’t protect you. Why did you wander so far?"

"My son, you have finally returned! We were anxious to death, unable to summon you or find you for so long!"

The horror of the paperman speaking was overshadowed by the emotional reunion, and Jiang Yuan watched the scene with a deep sense of emotion.

So young, just going out to collect some herbs and now eternally separated. An old lady losing her son, a middle-aged woman losing her husband, children too young losing their father—this family is truly pitiful.

The paperman Tian Changgui comforted them for a while until the two women stopped crying, then stepped forward to bow to Jiang Yuan, saying, "I went out that day to gather herbs, searching everywhere near home but couldn’t find Ningxin Grass. I thought of looking elsewhere, but inadvertently wandered too far. Those birds that emit strong light attacked, and I couldn’t defend myself, hence my demise.

Thanks to you for burying my body, preventing it from being devoured by demon beasts in the wilderness and leaving no remains. I’m even more grateful for your trouble in transporting my body back. Tian Changgui is eternally grateful, unable to repay your kindness. Please come inside to rest, so my wife can prepare some gratitude gifts for you."

Hearing her husband’s words, Ji Xiuxiang realized her misunderstanding towards the other party, her killing intent dropping to non-threatening levels.

[Side Quest 2 completed, rewards issued]

As the threat disappeared, a system prompt indicated the task’s completion, and a new skill, the Paperman and Paper Horse Skill, had been added to Jiang Yuan’s skills. He didn’t check the details but followed the paperman Tian Changgui into the courtyard.

Partly due to curiosity about this family living off the Underworld, and partly thinking that with misunderstandings cleared, a chat might trigger new missions.

"When I buried the body, could Brother Tian’s soul clearly perceive the detailed scene?" Passing through a corridor with various papermen and horses displayed, they entered a tea room, and Jiang Yuan sat down and asked.

At the same time, he racked his brains thinking about the events of that night, pondering whether any inappropriate behavior or words had been noticed by the ghost.

The paperman Tian Changgui laughed and waved his hand, his painted mouth spreading a creepy grin, "After death, the soul, without external power, is in a daze. At that time, I only sensed your presence in chaos and felt you bury my body, but knew nothing else.

During that period, I remained confused, unable to perceive the passage of time, until the Yin Warrior dug up my body and placed it in the coffin, then I sensed your presence again, muddleheadedly being brought back.

This paperman body won’t last long. I must find another method. Originally, the dead should enter Fengdu and reincarnate, but I can’t leave them, the lone widow and orphan, behind, so I asked Immortal for help to extended some time, until the child grows up a bit."

"I see." Only then did Jiang Yuan breathe a sigh of relief. Recalling nothing unusual when fishing in the meadow, he felt less worried now that the ghost had been in a dazed state.

Ji Xiuxiang offered a cup of hot tea with both hands and softly apologized, "I mistook the gentleman for harming my husband. Please forgive my rudeness and offensive words. You helped collect my husband’s body, sparing it from desecration. You helped transport it back without resentment. Such immense kindness is unforgettable for Ji Xiuxiang, any future necessity, we would be ever willing to help!"

Jiang Yuan exchanged pleasantries and curiously asked, "I’m not being presumptuous, just a bit curious and have a question. If inconvenient, no need to answer, I’m just satisfying my curiosity."

"Please ask, sir, we have no secrets to hide." The paperman Tian Changgui stiffly nodded.

"I am curious, you live isolated in the deep forest, how does the whole family’s livelihood sustain?"

"Ah, so that’s what you’re curious about." Ji Xiuxiang smiled warmly upon hearing this, her eyes showing a hint of pride, explaining: "Our family has lived here for generations. The house was built during my husband’s grandfather’s grandfather’s time. We not only make paper figures but also incense, though these are not for sale but for offering to the Immortals."

"Offerings to the Immortals?" Jiang Yuan was even more puzzled.

Are papermen not exclusively used in the Underworld? Why would Immortals use paper crafts?

"Indeed, for years we’ve only done one thing—offerings to the Immortals. The Immortals grant us rice, flour, oil, cloth, silk, and other daily necessities. We lack no provisions and need not go out, except when children grow up needing to take in vagrant spouses, almost no contact with outsiders."

The paperman Tian Changgui, seeing his puzzled look, explained, "Sir must have been to temples or Taoist monasteries? When people worship gods or Buddha, what’s needed? It’s the incense!"

He stiffly pointed to the papermen and horses outside, "Look, those are for the Immortals too. Immortals live in remote Immortal Mansions away from the human world. Those little Daoist Children do not have enough Immortal Power to transport supplies, so they need these paper oxen and horses to carry them into the mountains."