Chapter 200: Filial Piety

Jiang Can pulled Li Zhi aside and shared the information he had gleaned from Ning Xue the previous night.

“While filming, she overheard her grandmother telling her father to return and relocate their ancestors’ graves. She believes she’s being haunted by her grandparents’ spirits and thinks that if the graves aren’t moved, she’ll keep suffering bad luck, just like in the movies.”

Li Zhi asked, “Is her father still refusing to come back?”

Jiang Can shrugged. “He won’t. Guilty conscience—he doesn’t dare face them. Ning Xue called him this morning, and he just told her to leave that place as soon as possible.”

Li Zhi thought for a moment, then leaned in and whispered something into Jiang Can’s ear.

Jiang Can hesitated. “Will that work?”

Li Zhi smiled. “Why do you think Ning Xue’s grandparents were sent into the urn tombs even after the bridal escort custom had been abolished?”

Jiang Can raised an eyebrow in understanding.

“A profit-driven businessman might not prioritize his daughter’s safety, but he’ll always prioritize his own interests.”

Jiang Can nodded and turned to leave, then paused. “But we’re supposed to clear the level today. Whether her father comes back or not doesn’t really affect us, right?”

Li Zhi gazed at the mountain dotted with urn tombs in the bridal escort village. “I have a feeling this won’t be as easy as we think. Luo Jiafu is a key figure in this story. Having him return is the safer option.”

Jiang Can didn’t ask further and strode toward Ning Xue, who stood nearby.

As she approached, she overheard Ning Xue asking a hunched elderly woman, “Did you know my grandparents?”

“Of course! We grew up together. When your father got married—to your mother—I even helped your grandmother arrange it!”

Ning Xue’s expression was complicated as she stared at the wrinkled old woman, biting her lower lip. “Then… do you know how my grandparents died?”

The old woman didn’t answer immediately. “Didn’t your father tell you?”

Ning Xue’s face darkened. “He said they died of illness. I don’t believe him.” She fixed her gaze on the woman, steeling herself. “Tell me the truth. Were my grandparents sent into urn tombs?”

Under the intense stare of those young, determined eyes, the old woman’s fading memories suddenly sharpened. She recalled Lijin, who had once worked the fields and gathered firewood with her.

Lijin had been a famous beauty in their youth—so much like the girl standing before her now.

Back then, so many suitors had come for Lijin, yet she had chosen the Luo family. If only she hadn’t married into that household, she wouldn’t have given birth to Luo Jiafu, that unfilial wretch.

Ning Xue waited, growing impatient at the old woman’s silence. “Well? Say something!”

The old woman snapped out of her thoughts, rubbing her reddened eyes. In a hoarse voice, she asked, “I heard you’re leaving today. Before you go, let me take you to your grandparents’ grave to burn some incense.”

Ning Xue’s lips pressed tightly together. After a long pause, she gave a quiet hum of agreement.

Jiang Can followed as the old woman led the way up the mountain. Ning Xue grew increasingly pale as they walked the familiar path to the urn tombs.

When she stumbled, Jiang Can steadied her. Ning Xue turned, her eyes red. “Jiang Can… my grandparents really were killed by my father…”

Jiang Can patted her hand reassuringly. “It happened so long ago—before you were even born. It’s not your fault. As long as your father comes back to relocate their graves, everything should be fine.”

Ning Xue’s anger flared. “But he refuses to come! If I have to, I’ll move their graves myself!”

Jiang Can said, “I have a way to trick him into returning.”

After hearing the plan, Ning Xue hesitated. “Will he believe it?”

Jiang Can grinned. “Just send him a photo.”

Ning Xue blinked. “What photo?”

“If you agree, I’ll go down now and set it up. Doesn’t the crew have props?”

Ning Xue was quickly convinced, her expression lightening. “Alright! Go ahead. I’ll come down after burning incense for my grandparents!”

The path up the mountain was one the crew walked daily. As Ning Xue reached the summit and saw the old woman standing before the rows of urn tombs, her last shred of hope shattered.

The old woman beckoned. “Come here, Xue.”

Ning Xue’s gaze landed on the newest-looking urn tomb at the southeastern edge—the last one built in the village. Her grandparents had been the final pair sent into these tombs.

“Lijin, Zhongshu, your granddaughter is here.” The old woman pulled out incense and spirit money. “She’s a filial child, come to burn incense for you. Look how grown she is—just like Lijin in her youth.”

Remembering the eerie events in the old house, Ning Xue’s legs trembled. She knelt stiffly before the grave, lit the incense, and kowtowed three times. “Grandma, Grandpa, I’m here to see you. I… I didn’t know what my father did. I’ll make him come back and move your graves!”

This cramped, unmarked tomb was where they had been killed—not where they had been laid to rest.

The thought of her grandparents being buried alive, left to starve in this tiny space, made Ning Xue’s blood run cold. She couldn’t bear to stay a second longer. After paying her respects, she hurried back down the mountain.

Down below, the set was ready. The director, spotting Ning Xue, called out, “Xue! Hurry up—we’re starting the final shoot! Let’s wrap before dark!”

Ning Xue saw Jiang Can waving at her from the old house’s entrance and quickened her pace. “Director, wait! I’ll be right there!”

She sprinted to the door, where Jiang Can nodded and led her inside.

In the courtyard, near the kitchen, a pit had been dug. Glittering gold sand peeked through the dried grass. Li Zhi and several players stood around, feigning excitement.

Ning Xue snapped a few photos, sent them to her father, and called him.

After a few rings, Luo Jiafu’s irritated voice came through. “I’m busy with million-dollar deals every day! I don’t have time for this nonsense! Finish filming and come home!”

“No, Dad! Did you see the photos?” Ning Xue’s acting skills shone as she gasped dramatically. “The crew dug up a gold mine in our old house!”

“What?!” His voice boomed through the phone.

“Look at the pictures! We were digging a well for a scene and hit gold! The whole crew’s fighting over it! Dad, since it’s on our property, doesn’t it belong to us?”

“Hold on! Let me see!”

A pause. Then Luo Jiafu’s voice rose in excitement. “It really is gold! They searched for months back then and found nothing—turns out it was under our house! Xue, stop them! That’s our gold! I’m booking a flight now!”

“Hurry! The village chief says he’s reporting it to the county!”

“Don’t let him! Why should we hand our gold to the county? I’m coming!”

Ning Xue huffed. “You should’ve come earlier! How am I supposed to stop them alone? Ugh—hey! Stop taking that! It’s mine!”

The line filled with chaotic shouts before Luo Jiafu hung up, barking at his assistant, “Book me the fastest flight to Nan County! And get Lawyer Chen on standby!”

Ning Xue grinned at Jiang Can. “It worked.”

Jiang Can gave her a double thumbs-up.

“The flight only goes to the county seat. After that, he’ll need to take a bus. He probably won’t get here until afternoon.” Ning Xue calculated the timing. “I’ll go film. You help prepare what we need for the grave relocation. The elders here know me—they’ll help. Once my dad arrives, we’ll move the graves as fast as possible.”

No dragging it out like in the movies. The longer they waited, the worse things got.

Jiang Can agreed.

Ning Xue rushed off to film. The players in the old house dusted off their hands, watching her go. Yuan Qing pumped a fist. “Go nail that scene! Once you wrap, we clear the level.”

The thought of finishing today energized everyone.

With the supporting roles done, the set had enough people. Li Zhi went with Jiang Can to gather grave-moving supplies. The village had no stores—everything had to be borrowed from the elderly residents.

When the villagers heard Luo Jiafu was returning to move his parents’ graves, they were stunned.

The village chief puffed on his pipe, expression unreadable. Finally, he said, “If he’s showing this remorse, we elders must support it. Grave-moving shouldn’t be delayed. Old Liu, check the feng shui for a new burial site. I’ll go to town and hire a funeral band. They suffered in life—let them have dignity in death.”

The others murmured agreement.

Watching the elders bustle about, Jiang Can smirked. “Now that the whole village knows, Luo Jiafu won’t have a choice.”

Time passed. With the elders busy, lunch was just a quick bowl of noodles.

By afternoon, filming was nearly done. The director cheered, “Last scene! Xue, Lu Ao, give it your best!”

The players were even more excited than the crew, mentally counting down to their escape.

But when the final shot wrapped and the crew celebrated, the通关 notification never came.

They waited, growing anxious. Xing Qingyue ran to Li Zhi. “We finished the mission! Why haven’t we cleared the level?”

Li Zhi stood with Kong Que and the others, unsurprised.

Yan Yingrui sighed. “Ning Xue’s presence merged the movie with reality. The filming’s done, but the story’s ending isn’t complete.”

Because the heroine’s grandparents remained trapped in their tombs.

Li Zhi looked toward the village road. “We wait for Luo Jiafu. The system wants a perfect ending—and that means the graves must be moved.”