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Wang Tuozi set off with Wei Ning, harboring deep affection for him. They parted ways not far from Wei Ning's home, where Wang Tuozi provided an address and asked Wei Ning to visit him next summer vacation, promising to formally take him on as a disciple and teach him the true ways of the Dao. The peculiar case involving the Zhou family was resolved due to Zhou Xin's confession, once again showcasing the swift and decisive capabilities of the people's police. However, Zhou Xin only admitted to killing Guo Cui; he remained silent about the Nurturing Ghosts and other matters, which no one would believe anyway. Later, Zhou Xin was sentenced to death, but before the execution could take place, he used his Dao skills to unlock his handcuffs with cash and hanged himself in prison with his shoelaces.
Old Man Zhou and Zhou Kai suffered greatly; Old Man Zhou lost three family members in quick succession, aging decades overnight. By the end of the year, he fell seriously ill and passed away before the New Year. Zhou Kai was then adopted by his biological father as a foster son, becoming the unofficial younger brother of Fatty Li Jie.
When Wei Ning returned home, he suddenly realized that his grandfather, Wei Qiuxi, had not come back. He called Secretary Yang's family to inquire, only to learn that after sending the God of Joy away, Wei Qiuxi had returned home. The Wei family was frantic and reported it to the police, but it was futile; they even posted missing person notices without any results. It was as if Wei Qiuxi had vanished into thin air. Eventually, the Wei family lost hope and resigned themselves to their fate. Not long after that, school started for Wei Ning.
Wasn't Secretary Yang's body destroyed in Six Deaths and Five Burials? Why did members of the Yang family say that Wei Qiuxi had sent the God of Joy away and even personally presided over the burial ceremony?
Reflecting on those events, Wei Ning could not pinpoint where things had gone wrong; his heart was filled with doubts. A year passed without any news of Wei Qiuxi, yet the time agreed upon with Wang Tuozi had quietly arrived.
Wei Ning greeted his mother, who seemed unconcerned about his plans. He packed a bag with toiletries and took along a bank card; his mother loaded it with a thousand yuan—enough for a month's expenses—and instructed him to call home if he needed more money. The next day, Wei Ning took a bus to find Wang Tuozi.
Wang Tuozi's address was easy to locate: it was at a grand Daoist temple on Phoenix Mountain, famous throughout Xiangxi. Wei Ning could take a bus directly to the foot of the mountain, where visitors were plentiful, indicating a thriving incense offering.
Upon entering Pure Yang Temple, Wei Ning was awestruck by its grandeur. From afar, he saw ethereal mist enveloping the area; the towering gate stood over ten meters high and was painted in bright vermilion. In the center of the gate were four gilded characters spelling out "Pure Yang Daoist Temple," each nearly a meter tall—truly eye-catching. He thought to himself, "No wonder this place is so impressive; only such grand locations can produce true masters," feeling an increased respect for Wang Tuozi.
Even though it wasn't the birthday of Pure Yang Patriarch, the temple was still bustling with worshippers.
Wei Ning searched for a while but couldn't spot Wang Tuozi. He mused, "Wang Tuozi must hold a high position here; perhaps everyone knows him." With this thought in mind, he approached a Daoist priest.
The priest appeared courteous and bowed slightly to Wei Ning. "Benefactor, how may I assist you?"
"I'm looking for someone named..." Wei Ning hesitated as he couldn't recall Wang Tuozi's full name. Then he remembered that Wang Tuozi had mentioned calling himself Wang Chuyi when speaking to Zhou Xin. "I'm looking for Wang Chuyi; do you know him?"
The Taoist smiled and said, "How could I not recognize him? Everyone in our temple knows him. Follow me." He led Wei Ning to find Wang Tuozi.
Wei Ning was surprised to learn that Wang Tuozi held a relatively high position in the temple. It seemed he had not chosen the wrong master after all. He felt a surge of joy as he followed the Taoist through several turns until they stopped in a side hall. The Taoist pointed to a portrait hanging on the wall and said, "That is Wang Chuyi, and beside him are several other seniors like Qiu Chuji. Would you like to offer incense? We have three packages to choose from, starting at just nine hundred ninety-nine..."
Wei Ning felt a rush of frustration and simply thanked him before leaving in a huff.
"Hey, don't go! The prices are negotiable! Take a look at our package flyer!" the Taoist called after him.
Wei Ning wandered around the temple for a while longer but still did not see Wang Tuozi. Feeling disheartened, he left the temple with his head down. However, as he reached the mountain gate, someone tripped him unexpectedly, causing him to stumble and fall to the ground with an "ouch."
As Wei Ning got back up, a familiar voice called out, "Child, are you still so careless while walking? Have you lost your spirit?"
Wei Ning's face lit up with joy. "Master!"
Wang Tuozi was equally delighted to see Wei Ning; he hadn't expected him to come as promised.
At that moment, Wei Ning noticed that Wang Tuozi was sitting on a bench with a table in front of him covered by a white cloth that displayed a large Taiji symbol. On either side were words that read: fortune-telling, divination, and matching birth dates. "To speak honestly and not flatter."
"What is this?" Wei Ning asked, puzzled.
Wang Tuozi rolled his eyes and replied, "What does it look like? I'm running a business here. Even I need to eat."
"So you're not actually from the temple... you're a fortune-teller?"
"Why not? In our Taoist Sect, there are only different roles in the practice of Taoism, without any distinction of high or low status. Come on, go on and wait over there, don't delay my business—Sir, please hold on! I see that your brow is dark; you are facing a great calamity soon. Let me read your palm for you, no charge—Hey, hey, hey, miss, please wait!"
Wei Ning was fuming beside him, his face turning red with anger as he glared at Wang Tuozi. The grand image of the Wang family that had been built up in his mind had now crumbled to dust.
Wei Ning had waited for Wang Tuozi all afternoon. With his shifty eyes and rat-like features, Wang Tuozi rarely attracted clients for fortune-telling and had only managed to make one sale. Seeing that it was getting late, Wang Tuozi packed up his tools and said to Wei Ning, "Let's go home."
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