He, too, wanted to live in a mansion like this, idling his life away in comfort until the day he died.

After two continuous days of heavy, goose-feather snow, Yongcheng was nearly buried. Stepping into the snow outside the house would swallow a person’s calf halfway.

Ji Linxi huddled under three layers of blankets, too lazy to get out of bed.

But he had to. The Wang family, whom he had scammed… no, made an appointment with the day before yesterday, were expecting him at their manor today to exorcise evil spirits from their young master.

This single trip would earn him five hundred taels of silver, enough to live a carefree and comfortable life for quite a while.

Speaking of this Wang family, they were a branch of a high-ranking official’s clan in the capital. Having finally given birth to an only son, they spoiled him rotten, offering him the stars and the moon if he asked. As a result, when the young master of the Wang family grew up, he became a notorious local tyrant. He had run rampant in Yongcheng for years, and his favorite pastime was forcibly seizing civilian women. Anyone in town with a beautiful daughter had to hide her away securely, terrified she might catch the young master’s eye and be snatched away.

Yet, there were always girls with terrible luck who accidentally bumped into this living Yama. When their families went to the manor to demand their return, not only did they fail, but they were also severely beaten.

On the third day after one particular girl was dragged into the Wang estate, a corpse wrapped in a straw mat was tossed out in the dead of night. The sleepless family members waiting outside opened it, instantly erupting into miserable, agonizing wails.

A few days later, rumors spread that the Wang estate was haunted. The young master had sprinted out of his bedroom, bruised and battered from tripping, screaming, “Don’t kill me, it’s your own bad luck!” He kept babbling about a ghost coming back to claim his life.

Ghosts? How could there be ghosts in this world?

Ji Linxi didn’t believe in gods or ghosts. So, when the Wang family posted a bounty seeking a capable Daoist priest to kill the spirit, he spent a little time gathering information, threw on a disguise, and went to tear the poster down. Naturally, he wasn’t the only one who answered the call. However, the others were completely terrified and chased off by Master Wang’s threat: “If you can’t kill this ghost, you will die.” In the end, only Ji Linxi and an old Daoist who actually possessed a bit of an otherworldly aura remained.

After warming himself under the blankets for a little longer, Ji Linxi finally got ready to dress.

He had stuffed his fraudulent Daoist robes into the bed the night before to warm them up. Grabbing the clothes, he wiggled and writhed around under the covers until he managed to put them on, only then throwing off the blankets to get up.

Since he was a lowly swindler, all of his hideouts were built sloppily to make fleeing easier if his cons were exposed. His current den was a makeshift bamboo hut. The freezing wind poured in from the outside, making him shiver uncontrollably. The only advantage was that he could leave everything behind when he ran; at most, he would just bundle up his blankets to take to his next home.

He pulled out a bronze mirror and, with red, freezing hands, tidied himself up. He rubbed a little ash powder on his face and coal dust on his eyebrows, messing around until his face looked decidedly ordinary, yet with a subtle hint of handsome maturity. He practiced a few expressions in the mirror. Soon enough, a seemingly seasoned and highly capable young Daoist appeared.

Ji Linxi nodded in satisfaction.

He strapped on his bamboo basket, which was filled with pre-prepared props. After a moment’s thought, he casually ruffled his hair a few times. Under the hazy pre-dawn sky, Ji Linxi set out toward the Wang estate.

He arrived at the Wang residence during the Hour of the Snake (around 9 to 11 AM).

True to their status as a branch of a capital official’s family, the Wang estate’s threshold was much higher than that of ordinary homes. The stone lions outside were majestic and imposing, their glaring eyes thoroughly intimidating. Seven or eight guards stood out front, all looking down their noses at people. However, due to the recent haunting rumors, their expressions appeared rather gloomy.

Finally here. My legs are about to snap.

Ji Linxi sighed internally. Straightening his back, he strolled over with an unhurried, graceful pace, carrying his bamboo basket. He stated his purpose and handed over the torn bounty poster.

The guard eyed him suspiciously. But seeing that the young man’s face, though youthful, bore the weary marks of weather and travel—and noticing his completely unflappable demeanor—the guard simply said, “Wait a moment,” and went inside to report.

After a short while, the guard returned and gestured for him to enter.

“Daoist Chu, you are quite early.”

Famished and having specifically timed his arrival to score a free meal from this wealthy household, Ji Linxi replied, “I chased a ghost all through the night. I rushed over as soon as I dealt with it.”

His cheeks were flushed red from the cold, and his hair was disheveled just right, yet his eyes held a calm, resolute gaze. The guard inspected his boots and feet, noting the snow-soaked trousers and mud-caked soles. The guard’s expression immediately shifted to one of genuine respect.

“You have worked hard, Daoist Chu. Please come in, I will take you to see our Master and Young Master.”

Ji Linxi nodded and said calmly, “I must trouble you.”

Entering the main gates and passing down a path brought them to the festooned gate, beyond which lay the courtyard. Walking along the covered corridor for a while, Ji Linxi clicked his tongue in wonder.

This Wang family is so damn rich. Why not share half of it with me, so I can enjoy it properly?

He, too, wanted to live in a mansion like this, idling his life away in comfort until the day he died.

When they reached the main hall, Master Wang, Madam Wang, and Young Master Wang were already waiting. Clad in fine silk and draped in thick velvet cloaks, they formed a stark contrast to Ji Linxi’s shabby, impoverished appearance.

Young Master Wang clearly didn’t believe that this youthful, stinking Daoist could solve the estate’s ghost problem. Malice flared in his heart as he smiled mockingly at Ji Linxi. “Daoist, do you know that if you can’t deal with this ghost, it will cost you your life?”

Master Wang sharply reprimanded his son from the side. “Jinzhi, is that any way to speak to the Daoist? The Daoist dared to accept the bounty, which means he possesses true ability.” He then turned to Ji Linxi, his tone amiable. “You have arrived at the perfect time, Daoist. It is time for breakfast. If you don’t mind, please dine with us while we wait for Daoist Qingweng to arrive.”

If he ate this breakfast now, how could he keep his life later? Suppressing the urge to gorge himself, Ji Linxi swept a calm glance over the delicacies, turned his head, and said with a solemn expression, “Breakfast can wait. First, accompany me to the northern courtyard to take a look. When I entered, I saw an overwhelming aura of resentment soaring into the sky from that direction. We must quickly confirm if there has been any unforeseen mutation.”

The three family members turned pale upon hearing this, precisely because the northern courtyard belonged to Young Master Wang He.

Master Wang’s heart skipped a beat. Could this man actually have real skills?

“Daoist, please follow me.” His expression turned serious as he led Ji Linxi toward the Junzi Pavilion.

The group walked toward the inner courtyard.

Ji Linxi had already begun his act. He pulled out a luopan compass. His hand twitched restlessly beneath it, causing the needle to occasionally point north before convulsing violently. He lowered his head, frowning deeply, looking exactly like a man who had encountered an incredibly difficult problem.

Then, he turned his head and started fishing for information.

Of course, fishing for information couldn’t be done openly. For a Daoist priest, the essence lay in the word mystery—profound and ethereal. You had to speak in a way that people only half-understood, leaving them awestruck by what they couldn’t grasp.

To secure this bowl of rice, Ji Linxi had paid no small price. Since he was young, fighting wild dogs in the dirt for scraps of food, he knew the life-changing power of literacy and knowledge. Because of this, he spent several years working without pay, braving wind and rain doing odd chores as a handyman at an academy. While others attended class, he would work nearby and eavesdrop, wishing he could glue his entire ear to the wall.

Over the years, he actually managed to fill his belly with a bit of bluff-worthy ink. Using his own money, he secretly bought a few books, learning a little bit of this and a little bit of that, eventually embarking on the path of swindling.

Unfortunately, he was later kicked out of the academy after suffering a severe beating. He had found a beautiful bead belonging to someone else and secretly hidden it away, only to be discovered before he even had the chance to properly admire it.

That beautiful bead was naturally taken back, leaving him yearning for it for many years.