Chapter 2865

Cheng Jin let out a self-deprecating sigh. She never imagined she would have the leisure to compare herself to others in matters of childbirth.

The pain had lasted for five full hours, yet Cheng Jin had endured it, gritting her teeth through every second.

Once the agony subsided, she let out a long breath of relief. She was surprised by her own resilience; she had actually withstood such torment for five hours.

"Hurry back and take a shower. You smell terrible," Qian Huansheng said. "And remember to come back after you’re done."

Cheng Jin didn’t even want to look at Qian Huansheng. It wasn’t rudeness; she genuinely smelled bad. She realized her body was covered in a layer of black grime.

She quickly returned to her room, showered, and changed her clothes.

She threw the dirty clothes into the washing machine and then stood before the mirror, ready to dry her hair.

Looking at her reflection, Cheng Jin froze.

She knew her face well. Her features were delicate, but years of part-time work had left her skin rough, with noticeable pores around her nose.

But now, her skin looked like a peeled egg—moist, smooth, and elastic.

It was the same face, yet it held a newfound charm.

No woman dislikes beauty, and Cheng Jin was no exception.

Seeing her improved complexion and skin, she felt that the five hours of pain had been worth it.

After drying her hair, Cheng Jin returned to the practice chamber.

"Boss," she said upon entering. Qian Huansheng was still drinking coffee.

Qian Huansheng pointed to a small bottle on the table. "This is Spirit Liquid. It will perfect the areas your body didn’t fully refine during the marrow-washing process."

Cheng Jin stared at the bottle for a moment before asking, "Will this make my heart ache again?"

"Probably not," Qian Huansheng thought for a moment. "I recall this Spirit Liquid feels very comfortable when consumed."

Cheng Jin looked at her skeptically but eventually picked up the bottle and poured a drop into her mouth.

The single drop of Spirit Liquid instantly made her mind clearer.

Her body also felt lighter.

Although the physical pain had stopped, a lingering shadow of discomfort had remained in her heart. But after drinking the Spirit Liquid, that shadow vanished.

She felt a profound sense of comfort, from the inside out.

"This Spirit Liquid feels so good," Cheng Jin sighed in relief.

Qian Huansheng glanced at her. "Obviously. A single drop of this Spirit Liquid is a treasure sought after for ages."

Cheng Jin didn’t doubt her. Even if she were inexperienced, she had personally felt the effects and knew this Spirit Liquid was extraordinary.

"Thank you, Boss," Cheng Jin said sincerely.

"Just don’t call me boring for forcing you to cultivate the Heavenly Master Art," Qian Huansheng said calmly.

"I won’t," Cheng Jin replied. She wasn’t ungrateful. "I’ll go back to work now."

Cheng Jin had taken the marrow-washing pill around four in the afternoon. It was now nearly ten o’clock, the busiest time for the shop.

"Go ahead. Also, your constitution is now fully activated. If possible, you can cultivate while working," Qian Huansheng advised kindly.

"I’ll remember that," Cheng Jin thanked him again and left.

As Cheng Jin stepped out, Old Ma raised an eyebrow. "Little Cheng, you seem even more beautiful."

Cheng Jin smiled. "Uncle Ma, if it weren’t for the Boss’s pills, I wouldn’t look like this."

Hearing it was Qian Huansheng’s doing, Old Ma asked no further questions.

Qian Huansheng rarely allowed interference in his affairs. Even Old Ma, who had followed him for years, knew that defying the Boss’s will would lead to unpleasant consequences.

Cheng Jin looked around the hall. About ten guests had already arrived.

"Fewer guests today," she noted. Over the past few months, she had grown accustomed to dealing with these unique customers.

Old Ma nodded. "Indeed, business has been slow recently. But next month will be busy."

"Next month?" Cheng Jin tilted her head, then realized. "Next month is July."

"Yes. July is also known as the Soul Month. It will be busier. Not only will new spirits arrive, but some spirits from the Underworld will come through special channels to experience life in the mortal realm," Old Ma explained with a smile.

Cheng Jin nodded slightly. "Uncle Ma, with so many spirits, how does the Underworld manage everything so orderly? I can’t even manage one person."

Cheng Jin made no secret of her lack of management skills.

Old Ma chuckled. "The Venerable Yanluo knows how to use people wisely. Do you think he manages all those spirits alone? That’s impossible."

Old Ma checked the hall to ensure everything was fine before continuing. "Most decisions in the Underworld are made by the Young Master of the Underworld. The Venerable Yanluo doesn’t interfere. Besides the Young Master, there are ten regional managers. Each region has various departments: Finance, Reincarnation, Residents, Impermanence, Walkers, and many others. They each handle their own responsibilities."

Cheng Jin waved her hand. "Forget it. Just hearing about all those departments gives me a headache. I’m definitely not suited for management. I’m better off being managed."

She ended with a touch of self-mockery.

"Don’t say that. You’re doing a great job here," Old Ma said, struggling to find better words of comfort.

Cheng Jin laughed. "Uncle Ma, no need to comfort me. I know my limits."

Old Ma laughed heartily. she had to admire Cheng Jin. A few months ago, she was a complete novice. Now, she had grown significantly.

At that moment, a red-clad spirit entered, emitting a faint red aura.

Cheng Jin raised an eyebrow and approached. "Do you need a seat?"

"Can I come in?" the red-clad spirit asked.

"Technically, as a vengeful spirit, your presence would affect the shop. But there is a place for you," Cheng Jin smiled. "Please follow me."

Cheng Jin led her to a corner and made several hand gestures. "I’ve set up a simple isolation array here. You can rest."

"Thank you," the red-clad vengeful spirit said, a hint of bitterness in her eyes, before entering the array.

"What would you like to drink?" Cheng Jin asked again.

"You decide. I don’t know what you serve," the spirit replied.

Cheng Jin nodded and walked to the bar. "Uncle Ma, one Seven-Colored Dream."

"Coming right up," Old Ma smiled and prepared the drink.

Cheng Jin placed the Seven-Colored Dream in front of the red-clad spirit. "This drink will help you let go of your regrets."

The spirit looked at Cheng Jin for a long moment, then nodded slightly. "Thank you." She took a sip and fell asleep.

Cheng Jin didn’t disturb her and returned to the bar.

"What will you do with that vengeful spirit?" Old Ma asked, finally having time to speak.

"I isolated her malice with the array, so it won’t harm other spirits," Cheng Jin explained seriously. "The Seven-Colored Dream will allow her to resolve her regrets in her dream."

"You think she has regrets, rather than intentionally becoming a vengeful spirit?" Old Ma looked at her curiously.

Cheng Jin smiled. "Although she is a vengeful spirit, her malice isn’t emanating from her heart. Look at her eyes; they hold sorrow. If she had willingly become a vengeful spirit, her mind would likely have been consumed by malice by now."

Cheng Jin continued seriously. "I believe she became a vengeful spirit by coincidence. All I can do is resolve her malice and send her to the Underworld for judgment."

"Not bad. You’re starting to look like a Heavenly Master," Qian Huansheng’s voice came from the practice chamber.

Although Qian Huansheng was in his practice chamber, he had opened the coffee shop, so nothing happened there without his knowledge.

The arrival of the red-clad spirit had naturally alerted him.

If he had intervened, he would have simply destroyed the spirit. No one would question it.

She hadn’t acted because of Cheng Jin’s behavior.

She saw her set up the array. Although her technique was clumsy, she had done it well.

The Seven-Colored Dream was resolving the spirit’s malice. The drink was worth its price.

Yes, it was resolving the malice. Others couldn’t see it, but Qian Huansheng could clearly see the red-clad spirit’s malice slowly dissipating.

And Cheng Jin was right; this spirit had become vengeful by coincidence.

"This spirit’s name is Wang Yuanyuan. Her family wasn’t wealthy, and she rarely had new clothes. For her birthday, her father gave her money, and she bought a red dress from a street stall.

Unbeknownst to her, the dye pool for that fabric had been the site of a murder. A trace of Yin energy had stained the cloth, which was then made into the dress.

Normally, leaving the dress in the sun for a few days would have neutralized the energy. However, Wang Yuanyuan discovered her boyfriend had betrayed her. Overcome with emotion, her mind was influenced by the Yin energy, and she jumped from a building. At the time of her death, dark clouds covered the sun, turning her into an incomplete vengeful spirit."

Qian Huansheng had deduced the spirit’s backstory with a simple calculation.

"What a coincidence," Cheng Jin sighed, feeling a pang of sympathy. But she knew it was Wang Yuanyuan’s fate.

Not everyone could resist fate. Those without power or ability should never claim, "My fate is my own, not heaven’s."