Holding a lantern, guiding souls across, Lady Hou comes from the underworld.

Under the eager gaze of the two young people, Ren Xuan recounted a past event.

Fifteen years ago, in the late autumn, was his first visit to Yunhe Mountain.

To show his sincerity, he went alone, without any guards or servants.

That place is far from the capital. Even by land, using the best horses and traveling non-stop, it would take five days and five nights to reach the foot of the mountain.

The mountain path ahead is very steep, and it takes half a day to climb to the top.

When I arrived, all I saw were maple leaves covering the mountains.

He saw Ren Yao playing with seven or eight young Taoist boys under the tree.

The oldest one was probably only two or three years older than his own son.

The remaining children were only two or three years old.

When Ren Yao saw his elder brother arrive, he said to the older child, "Xiao Chu, lead the junior brothers to play."

The older child responded and led the group of children away.

Ren Xuan couldn't help but ask, "Why are there so many children on Yunhe Mountain?"

Ren Yao laughed and said, "Most of them are abandoned babies I picked up while traveling around these years."

"..."

Ren Xuan then understood.

Over the years, his younger brother has been traveling around, but he often borrows money from him under various pretexts, and even goes to money lenders in his name.

He himself was always "dressed in rags" and didn't even have a decent set of clothes.

So that's where all the money went.

He didn't know what to say for a moment.

Ren Yao moved closer and put his arm around his brother's neck, just like when they were children, acting without any decorum.

"Brother, you've come all this way, surely not to question me about my crimes?"

"The money I borrowed on credit from Huitong Money Shop last time was intended to be used to make some winter clothes for these children."

Ren Xuan wanted to question him, "Was that 'buying on credit'?"

They were clearly using the name of the Marquis of Renxuan's residence to intimidate others.

But thinking of that older child, whose old coat was patched countless times, he probably wouldn't be able to wear it if it got any colder.

He could only grunt, "I'll let you off this time since you're doing serious business."

Ren Yao suppressed his smile and asked, "How has Donglang been lately?"

When his son was mentioned, Ren Xuan's expression immediately darkened.

"The methods you suggested do have some effect, but they don't address the root cause. I'm afraid... this child..."

Ren Yao immediately interrupted him, "My master will be out of seclusion in the next couple of days. Once he's out, let's go together and beg him."

I stayed in the mountains for two days.

On the evening of the third day, Ren Yao's master, Lingxu Zhenren, emerged from seclusion. Upon learning that someone was requesting an audience, he refused to see him and instead summoned Ren Yao to his room.

Ren Xuan waited anxiously outside.

After waiting for nearly two hours, my younger brother finally came out.

"Ah Yao, what did the real man say? Is he still willing to see me?"

Ren Yao smiled calmly and told him, "Master has already told me how to save Donglang. I will go down the mountain with you first thing tomorrow morning."

Ren Xuan's anxious heart finally settled down.

He wanted to ask his younger brother what method was used.

Ren Yao replied mysteriously, "This is a secret technique of Yunhe Mountain, and it cannot be revealed."

The next morning, Ren Xuan woke up to the sound of a group of children crying.

Upon learning that their junior master was leaving, the young disciples joined forces to stop Ren Yao.

The older child cried the loudest: "Junior Uncle, after you left, no one brought me delicious food or fun toys anymore."

Ren Yao patted his face and called him by his full name: "Yan Zhengchu, none of the junior brothers cried as much as you. What kind of senior brother are you?"

The older child buried his face, covered in snot and tears, in Ren Yao's arms: "Junior Uncle, I can't bear to part with you. You promised to teach me how to catch ghosts."

"Your master will teach you after your uncle goes down the mountain."

"I want my martial uncle to teach me; my master is always so fierce."

Ren Yao wiped his face with his sleeve without any disgust. "Alright, follow your master and learn Taoist arts well. The future restoration of Yunhe Mountain will depend on you."

Amidst the cries of the children, Ren Yao followed Ren Xuan down the mountain.

The maple leaves that day seemed to be dyeing half the sky red.

After walking a long way, Ren Xuan looked back and could still see that splash of red.

At the same time, there were also her own younger brother's slightly red eyes.

It's clear that he also couldn't bear to part with those kids.

Ren Xuan laughed at him: "I told you to find a marriage partner before, but you ran to this mountain to learn magic and catch ghosts instead."

"Now look what's happened, you're acting as a father to a bunch of little Taoist priests?"

Ren Yao smiled, but there was a hint of bitterness in his smile.

"In recent decades, Yunhe Mountain has had fewer and fewer disciples, and now it can't even compare to that small Taoist temple at the foot of the mountain."

"It's extremely difficult for these children to have enough to eat and wear."

"I hope my elder brother can provide me with more support in the future."

Ren Xuan snorted coldly and said, "Let's talk about it after Donglang is cured."

They rode all the way back to the capital.

As soon as they arrived at the gate of the Marquis's residence, a servant rushed up to them, saying, "My lord, my lord... the young master... something terrible has happened!"

Ren Xuan hurriedly dismounted, but nearly tripped on the steps because he was walking too fast.

It was Ren Yao behind him who managed to help him up in time.

"Brother, you don't need to worry too much, I'm here."

That day, the Marquis of Renxuan's mansion was filled with a chilling aura, and for some unknown reason, almost all the wandering ghosts in the capital city surged up there.

Ren Yao immediately drew his jade sword and struck the South Garden Courtyard, thus stopping the invasion of those evil spirits.

However, the child inside was in danger of being killed by a strange, malevolent aura.

His pale face had an eerie bluish tinge, and he gripped his uncle's hand tightly: "Uncle, a ghost is trying to kill me! I'm in so much pain! Please save me!"

Lady Rong, the wife of the Marquis, was crying uncontrollably and wanted to step forward, but Ren Yao stopped her.

"Brother, take your sister-in-law out; leave this to me."

Ren Xuan was also anxious, but he could only choose to trust his brother. He pulled his wife out of the room and said, "A Yao, be careful."

A chilling wind blew outside, causing the windowpanes to rattle incessantly, as if countless ghostly hands were knocking on the door.

He heard Ren Yao shout from inside the room: "With me, Ren Yao, here, you wretched creature, don't even think about harming my nephew!"

Then, the entire Marquis's mansion was plunged into darkness.

Ren Xuan held his wife tightly, gazing at the inky black sky, barely daring to breathe.

After an unknown amount of time, Ren Yao's white jade sword, which was being used as a ritual offering in the air, emitted a jade-like sound, and a beam of bright white light pierced through the dark clouds above the Marquis's residence.

At that moment, the cold wind stopped, the dark clouds dispersed, and the sky brightened again.

And the jade sword, as if summoned, flew into the room.

Ren Xuan rushed to the door and asked, "Ah Yao, how's it inside?"

After a while, Ren Yao's voice came through, sounding extremely weak.

"Brother, please listen to me first..."

Ren Xuan knew something was wrong as soon as he heard this. He hurriedly pushed the door, but found that he couldn't open it no matter what he did.

"Ah Yao, what happened?"

Inside the room, Ren Yao sighed softly before saying, "Brother, I think... I need to rest for a while."

"When you come in, please place me in the secret room with the artificial hill in the back garden of your study."

"After Donglang wakes up, please try not to mention me again in the Marquis's residence..."

"When he grows up, and you can no longer hide it from him, then you can tell him about it as appropriate..."

"And... I'd like to ask you to take good care of those young Taoist priests at Yunhe Mountain, brother."