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

As Zhu Peng spoke, his emotions gradually welled up.

He continued, "After this happened, the four of us went to see the town officials, but because the matter involved the Marquis of Zhenbei, they didn't dare to get involved at all..."

"I also know that in the northern border region, the Marquis of Zhenbei holds absolute power. If the matter of Zhu Family Village is truly related to the 'Di slaves,' and Marquis Jiang wants to cover it up, then we... will never know the truth in this lifetime..."

As he spoke, he couldn't help but burst into tears, which caused his fellow countrymen next to him to wipe away their tears as well.

Ren Fengjue was about to say a few words to comfort him when he heard someone behind him say, "That's not necessarily true."

He recognized Xia Ximo's voice and quickly turned around. When he saw her, his tightly furrowed brows immediately relaxed, and he seemed much more at ease.

Zhu Peng had previously paid close attention at Kaifu Temple and noticed that Xia Ximo and Princess Fenghua were riding in the same carriage, so he guessed that their identities must be extraordinary.

Without a second thought, he knelt on the ground and asked in a trembling voice, "Young lady... can you help me?"

Xia Ximo glanced at him, then asked, "Is your wife's name Xiaoyun?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Peng was shocked again, so excited he almost couldn't speak: "Miss... how did you know?"

"She told me herself."

"What?"

Zhu Peng instinctively crawled two steps toward her, but Ren Fengjue helped him up.

He burst into tears again, "Xiaoyun isn't dead?"

Xia Ximo replied, "She's already dead. Her ghost told me that."

Zhu Peng was initially stunned, but judging from his reaction, he did not disbelieve. Instead, he lowered his eyes, looked at the old clothes in his hand, and shed a tear.

"I've been feeling like something's following me all the way from Zhujia Village to here..."

"When I'm in a light sleep at night, I often dream about Xiaoyun. I've wondered if it might be Xiaoyun's ghost..."

"But I've lived for over thirty years and have never seen a ghost, let alone... whether ghosts exist after people die."

Xia Ximo explained, "Everyone has their own destiny, and after death they all become ghosts, but not every ghost stays in the human world."

Zhu Peng listened to her words, seemingly understanding but not quite. "So, Xiao Yun stayed in the human world?"

"Yes, she has unresolved obsessions that have turned into resentment, preventing her from entering the underworld or reincarnating."

"Obsession?"

Zhu Peng suddenly remembered that before he left home, his wife Xiao Yun had said she would make him a new set of clothes.

She looked at him and smiled gently: "In just half a month, it will be the New Year. You've been wearing this same clothes for three years, yet you still can't bear to change them. On the other hand, I get new clothes every year. This is just not fair..."

"Since you're going to town, remember to check if the fabric shops have any suitable fabrics, and bring some back with you."

As Xiaoyun spoke, she slipped some copper coins into his pocket.

Thinking about all this, Zhu Peng felt a mix of emotions: "She... wants to wait for me to come home and make me a new outfit for the New Year?"

Xia Ximo replied, "Yes."

"..."

Zhu Peng could no longer hold back and burst into tears.

This time, Ren Fengjue didn't try to persuade him again. Instead, he asked Xia Ximo, "Did Xiaoyun's spirit say what exactly happened in Zhujia Village that night?"

Xia Ximo shook his head: "She doesn't remember."

Aside from remembering to tailor clothes for her husband, she forgot everything else, even how she died.

Upon hearing this, Ren Fengjue knew that the case of Zhu Family Village was not so easy to solve.

At the very least, I have to go there in person.

Zhu Peng cried for a while, then suddenly knelt down in front of Xia Ximo and said, "Miss... no, Master, is there any way for me to see Xiaoyun, even just once..."

Xia Ximo frowned slightly at the title "Master".

"How does she resemble a master?"

Yan Zhengchu suddenly appeared in the backyard for some reason and happened to hear Zhu Peng's words.

He added, "You'll have to come to me about this."

Xia Ximo remained silent.

Zhu Peng didn't dare to respond for a moment.

Yan Zhengchu was displeased. "What? You don't believe me?"

"No, no..." Zhu Peng said cautiously, "I just noticed that this young lady didn't say anything."

Yan Zhengchu said, "She's never been one for many words; you'll understand once you get to know her better."

"..."

Ren Fengjue coughed lightly and explained to Zhu Peng, "This is a Taoist priest from Yunhe Mountain who specializes in exorcising evil spirits and catching ghosts. He can indeed help you with matters concerning ghosts."

Yan Zhengchu felt quite pleased with what he heard.

The young marquis then added, "As for this Miss Xia, she can help your wife go to the underworld and be reincarnated."

In comparison, Master Yan actually felt as if he had been outshone...

Facing these two men, Zhu Peng dared not offend either of them, and could only plead in unison, "Please, you two, help me!"

Xia Ximo spoke up at this moment, saying, "We can help with matters concerning the dead, but you'll have to ask him for help with matters concerning your Zhu Family Village."

"Please, three people, help me! Help us!"

Zhu Peng knew that these three people were no ordinary individuals, and he finally saw a glimmer of hope.

He immediately summoned the two brothers and wanted them to kowtow to him, but Ren Fengjue stopped him again.

Xia Ximo handed the soul he had collected in the Soul-Crossing Lamp to Yan Zhengchu, instructing him to cast a spell so that the couple could meet.

Because Xiaoyun's soul is very weak, it is not suitable for ordinary transformation talismans, nor is it suitable for direct contact with people.

Yan Zhengchu could only set up a protective spirit array, allowing Zhu Peng to meet his wife within the array.

"Remember, once you enter this formation, your yang energy will be weakened. So, remember not to put down this candle, lest you lose yourself in the formation and not be able to find your way back."

"Moreover, you only have the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, so say what you need to say as soon as possible."

After handing the candle tied with a red thread to Zhu Peng, Master Yan began to cast a spell using talismans.

Zhu Peng gripped the candle tightly, feeling both nervous and expectant.

Suddenly, a cloud of smoke rose up in front of them, completely covering the surrounding scene.

Yan Zhengchu reminded him, "You can move forward now."

Zhu Peng followed his instructions and soon saw Xiao Yun's figure.

"Xiaoyun!"

Zhu Peng was so excited that he rushed forward to hug her, only to find that he couldn't touch her at all.

At this moment, Yan Zhengchu's voice rang in my ears again, "Humans and ghosts are different. She is now just a wisp of a soul."

Zhu Peng felt a pang of sadness and could only look at his wife, saying, "Xiao Yun, it's me, Peng-ge. Do you remember me?"

Upon hearing this, a glimmer of light, like the light of tears, flashed in Xiaoyun's previously dull eyes.

Clearly, she still remembered her husband.

"Brother Peng, you're wearing new clothes?"

She spoke softly, then walked to Zhu Peng's side, looked at him, and said, "The stitches are too rough. Take them off quickly, and I'll fix them for you."