Chapter 18: Ruler of Authority? Ruler of Discipline?

“That, I’m afraid, can only be determined once we thoroughly investigate the matter,” Xu Ruo shook her head, her eyes full of helplessness.

“For now, our priority is to locate the Green Toad Paperweight. Do you know where it is?” She turned to Xu Ye, her expression grave.

“The Green Toad Paperweight…” Xu Ye searched his memory, then shook his head with a bitter smile. “It was lost in my grandfather’s generation.”

At least as far as he recalled, this powerful ancestral relic only ever appeared in the family’s nostalgic reminiscences of days gone by.

Xu Ruo sighed softly. She had rushed to find Xu Ye in hopes of discovering some clue, but now it seemed her efforts were in vain.

“Why must we have the Green Toad Paperweight to break the Whispering Jade?” Xu Ye asked Xu Ruo.

The former owner of his body had only heard of the Green Toad Paperweight, knowing its name but not its significance, so Xu Ye had to turn to Xu Ruo for answers.

“Your elder brother is right. You never cared for anything but pleasure, completely neglecting your studies and cultivation. You don’t even know the purpose of our ancestral relics,” Xu Ruo looked at Xu Ye sternly—though her tone was reproachful, her heart was full of memories of Xu Yuan.

Xu Ye smiled awkwardly, but inwardly he echoed Xu Ruo’s complaint: “Exactly, if this fool’s mind wasn’t full of nonsense, my situation wouldn’t be so dire.”

Xu Ruo didn’t pursue the matter. Instead, she explained seriously, “Our ancestor left behind three sacred objects: two rulers and a book.”

“The book, also known as ‘The Nine Ghosts Pact,’ was written when our ancestor traveled the Ghost Mist Wilderness alone and forged contracts with nine great ghosts. It contains the nine powers of those ghosts. But soon after it was written, the ancestor hid it, and its whereabouts have been unknown ever since.”

“The two rulers—one is the disciplinary ruler enshrined in your family’s ancestral hall, also called the Ghost Scourge Ruler. Legend has it that Xu Nine Songs once whipped gods and ghosts with it.”

“The other is the Green Toad Paperweight your brother mentioned in his letter.”

“This Green Toad Paperweight was originally used by our ancestor as a paperweight. The righteous energy of the ancestor has imbued it, turning it into a sacred object—at least of the second grade, possibly even a first-grade Destiny Relic.”

“As for…” She paused, pinching her brow before continuing, “As for why we must have the Green Toad Paperweight to break the Whispering Jade, I suspect your brother wants us to use it to shield our aura, so the hidden enemy won’t detect us. The Green Toad Paperweight can conceal one’s energy so thoroughly that even saints and ghosts cannot probe it.”

Hearing Xu Ruo’s explanation, Xu Ye was both enlightened and astounded.

“So you mean, if we break the Whispering Jade without the Green Toad Paperweight, the one plotting against the Xu family could discover it?” Xu Ye voiced his suspicions.

“Is it really possible for someone to do such a thing?” he pressed.

“Saints and ghosts certainly can, and some scholars or ghostly entities with special abilities can as well. It’s not difficult,” Xu Ruo nodded.

Xu Ye’s mind was suddenly filled with many unfamiliar terms, but he decided to study them later to avoid raising suspicion.

“It seems you have no leads on the Green Toad Paperweight. I’ll have to return to the Xu family in Yu City to look. Meanwhile, you must be careful; those who harmed the Xu family in the capital may target you again,” Xu Ruo cautioned Xu Ye.

“Don’t worry, cousin. Soon I’ll be joining the Ghost Suppression Bureau. Surely those people won’t dare make a move there?” Xu Ye replied calmly with a smile.

He was quite relieved by his decision to join the Ghost Suppression Bureau.

“They actually agreed to let you work there?” Xu Ruo was surprised.

“They’re eager to close the case,” Xu Ye grinned.

Xu Ruo understood immediately—it must have been Xu Ye’s stubborn persistence and threats that got him the promise. She sighed inwardly, thinking, “If Xu Yuan had survived, such methods would never have been necessary.”

“Oh, by the way,” Xu Ruo suddenly took a bamboo slip from the brocade box.

“Though your brother Xu Yuan didn’t explain the origin of this bamboo slip, I sense it contains vast righteous energy. It must be a sacred object as well. You must guard it carefully; it may prove invaluable in the future.”

She handed the bamboo slip to Xu Ye.

“You don’t know its origin, either?” Xu Ye asked curiously as he took it.

“Besides the founding ancestor, the other ancestors left behind many sacred relics. How could I know them all?” Xu Ruo shook her head.

“Still, your brother said this bamboo slip was passed to your branch of the Xu family. Sacred objects have their own spirit—perhaps when your lineage produces a scholar again, it will reveal its powers.”

She offered her conjecture.

Xu Ye nodded, storing the bamboo slip and deciding to investigate it later.

At that moment, the carriage emerged from the alley, and the remnants of holy light streamed through the window, identical to the evening glow in Xu Ye’s original world.

“Let’s get off here. Cross the street ahead, and you’ll reach the Xu residence,” Xu Ruo called for the carriage to halt.

“You’re not coming with me?” Xu Ye asked casually.

“No,” Xu Ruo shook her head, her eyes dim.

Xu Ye understood she feared being overwhelmed by memories and did not insist, nodding before lifting the curtain to disembark.

“Second cousin,” Xu Ruo suddenly called out, her face tinged with guilt. “Earlier, I wrongly accused you. If you still feel upset, you can…you can slap me. I won’t retaliate!”

She closed her eyes and offered her face to Xu Ye.

Looking at her stubborn, delicate face, Xu Ye couldn’t help but laugh inwardly, “This girl’s nature really is straightforward.”

“That slap you gave me, my brother has already returned for you. We’re even now,” Xu Ye tossed out the remark, then leapt from the carriage and strode across the street.

At his words, Xu Ruo shuddered.

“It seems this second cousin isn’t as bad as others say,” she murmured, watching Xu Ye’s swaggering figure disappear down the street.

But soon her brow furrowed again, her fierce expression returning: “Brother Li Yuan, your vengeance, the Xu family’s vengeance—I swear I’ll help you avenge it!”

…

At the gates of the Xu residence.

“My home…has been sealed?”

Xu Ye stared at the two seals plastered over the entrance and the two city guards standing before the door, feeling a headache coming on.

“Gentlemen, how long will the Xu residence remain sealed?” Xu Ye asked the guards.

“The house is saturated with ghostly energy. It must be purified for seven days with sacred objects. Today is the fifth day,” one guard replied coldly.

Xu Ye breathed a sigh of relief.

“Fortunately, only seven days. But…where will I stay tonight and tomorrow?” he wondered.

Just as he was fretting about his lodgings, a carriage pulled up before the Xu residence. A girl in a white dress, beautiful but clearly displeased, stepped down.

“Miss Silent? Why are you here?” Xu Ye recognized the proud young woman.

“Don’t get the wrong idea. I just happened to pass by, not here to see you!” she replied, turning her face away.

Xu Ye was momentarily stunned, then grinned, “I understand, I understand. Miss Silent, you happened to pass by, and my house happened to be sealed, so you dropped by for a look. It’s all coincidence.”

With that, he jumped lightly into the carriage.

“Hey! Who said you could get in?” Lin Silent finally reacted after Xu Ye settled in.

“Huh? Weren’t you here to take me to your house?” Xu Ye looked at Lin Silent with innocent eyes.

“Who said anything about my house? I just thought you looked pitiful and wanted to take you to my aunt’s place for the night!” Lin Silent blurted out in a panic.

But as soon as she spoke, she realized what she’d said. Her fair face flushed red, and she stood there, dumbfounded.

“Miss Lin, don’t just stand there—get in. Your aunt’s house is fine by me,” Xu Ye leaned out the window, smiling at her.

“Hmph!” Lin Silent glared at him, full of fury, then marched silently onto the carriage.

“Miss Silent, is your aunt’s house far from the Ghost Suppression Bureau? I have to start work there tomorrow.”

“Don’t speak to me again!”

…

The next day.

Ghost Suppression Bureau, Ming Camp headquarters.

“Xu Ye, right? I am Zhou Mang, judge of the Third Banner in Ming Camp. From today on, you’re a ghost officer of the Third Banner.”

Early that morning, Xu Ye had hitched a ride with Lin Silent’s carriage and arrived promptly.

Accompanied by a ghost officer, he completed his registration and met his superior—Judge Zhou Mang of the Third Banner.