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

"Besides being able to see ghosts with the naked eye under the influence of talismans, when else can mortals see them?"

Upon hearing this question, everyone in the main hall except for Ren Fengjue and Yan Zhengchu remained calm.

The steward, Ren Cong, and the servant, A Chun, both looked surprised and involuntarily pricked up their ears.

They've never seen a ghost before...

Just as they were about to listen more closely, Ren Fengjue coughed lightly and instructed, "Uncle Ren, Ah Chun, you may leave for now."

"..."

There was nothing they could do; the young master wouldn't allow them to listen, and even if they had ears, they couldn't bear to hear it.

Ren Fengjue then said to Xia Ximo, "Miss Xia, why don't we sit down and talk some more?"

Xia Ximo entered the hall and, still disregarding etiquette, sat down directly next to him.

After dismissing the servants, Lord Ren had to personally pour a cup of tea and place it in front of her.

Yan Zhengchu took in this scene and couldn't help but smile before saying, "Besides talismans, some magical artifacts and Taoist hand seals are also acceptable."

"Of course, there are also some folk tales, such as wiping your eyes with willow leaves dipped in dew, or applying crow's tears around your eyes, which can temporarily allow you to see ghosts, but whether they work is hard to say."

Xia Ximo picked up her teacup and took a sip: "What you're saying is all just temporary ghost sightings?"

"Yes, the 'Transformation Talisman' I sold to the girl last time can only last for half an incense stick's time."

Xia Ximo nodded, but asked, "What if you were living under the same roof as a ghost?"

Yan Zhengchu paused, frowned, and said solemnly, "I'm afraid this won't work..."

"If a person lives with a ghost, over time, the yin energy will become excessive and the yang energy will be lacking. When the yang energy can no longer suppress the yin energy, the person may leave the body."

"The soul leaving the body is an extremely dangerous thing. If there is no powerful person to help call back the soul, then one will die and even a god cannot save him."

At this point, Yan Zhengchu took a sip of tea and continued, "But you're talking about living under the same roof as ghosts? Could it be...?"

Xia Ximo said, "He can see and speak, and is no different from a human."

Upon hearing this, not only Yan Zhengchu, but also Ren Fengjue were slightly startled.

"That's strange..."

Yan Zhengchu stood up excitedly and asked, "How long have these two been together?"

"Six months."

"How can this person still be alive and well?"

Master Yan exclaimed in astonishment, "That's over 180 days! Even a soul lingering in the mortal realm for 49 days would be utterly destroyed. How could a person survive after absorbing so much yin energy?"

"Um."

Yan Zhengchu was shocked for a long time before he came to a conclusion: "It seems that this person either has a master to help him or has something he cannot give up in the mortal world."

"It is said that if a person on the verge of death can communicate with the soul, they can break the barrier between yin and yang."

Xia Ximo remained silent for a moment.

The thing they can't let go of must be their obsession with finding the real culprit and taking revenge, right?

Yan Zhengchu couldn't help but ask again, "I've only ever seen such things in my master's demon-slaying notes. Where did Miss Xia encounter such a person?"

Xia Ximo didn't want to answer, and only said, "Just asking."

She was about to get up and go back to her room when, as if remembering something, she turned back and uttered four words to Ren Fengjue: "Two more days."

Ren Fengjue smiled and nodded, watching her leave.

In Yan Zhengchu's eyes, the two were exchanging glances, as if they were speaking in riddles, and one of them even said something that he couldn't understand at all, which made him extremely curious.

He couldn't help but ask, "What little secret do you have? Can you tell me?"

Ren Fengjue glanced at him, still humble and polite: "Since it is a secret, it is naturally impossible to tell you, Daoist. Please forgive me."

"..."

When Xia Ximo returned to her guest room in the East Courtyard, Tian Qing, as usual, brought her a bowl of ginseng soup. After watching her drink it, he began to prepare her toiletries.

Strangely enough, the two had only spent a few days together, yet they were already able to get along so well.

Tianqing was used to Xia Ximo's taciturn nature and tried her best to be considerate.

Xia Ximo had grown accustomed to her way of serving people; although it was tedious, it was also comforting.

She also prefers to sleep in a comfortable, soft bed, surrounded by calming and soothing fragrances.

That night, she had a dream.

In her dream, she stood on a mountain, gazing at the vast sky and the distant mountains and rivers.

The wind blew the hem of her clothes and lifted her long hair.

A young man in white sat with his back to her, his head bowed as he stroked a guqin.

The melodious sound of the zither, carried by the gentle breeze and the flowing mountain spring, reached her ears, clear and pleasant.

When the song ended, the boy turned around, but his face was blurred.

"Mogu, you say this is our parting, is there ever a day when we'll meet again?"

She didn't reply, but slowly turned her back to her.

The sky darkened in an instant.

Suddenly, I heard urgent and chaotic cries for help.

"Help me, girl, help me!"

"Someone's trying to kill me!"

"I'll give you those ten ingots of gold, please, save me! Save my wife..."

Turning around abruptly, a face bleeding from all seven orifices came into view.

Xia Ximo opened her eyes; it was already bright outside the window.

The incense burner that was placed beside the bed had fallen to the ground for some reason, scattering incense ash all over the floor.

She asked Wuyou, "Were there any ghosts last night?"

Wuyou shook her head: "No, but you must have been dreaming last night, right?"

Xia Ximo did not deny it.

That must not be an ordinary dream.

Perhaps she should go back to the abandoned house from yesterday.

As Ren Fengjue was leaving the East Courtyard, he was also about to go out. His usual two-wheeled carriage had been taken away by Ren Cong because it was too damaged.

Currently, the only usable vehicle inside the house is a four-wheeled carriage.

Seeing that she seemed to be heading out as well, Ren Fengjue asked her, "Where is Miss Xia going?"

Xia Ximo replied, "East Market."

Ren Fengjue turned to A Xia and instructed, "Go to the East Market first."

Although the carriage was spacious enough, Xia Ximo still habitually sat in the main seat after getting into the carriage.

Ren Fengjue didn't care at all and simply sat down to the side.

Now that they were together, he finally had the chance to say the words he hadn't spoken the day before.

"Miss Xia, you don't need to worry about the gold we talked about yesterday."

Xia Ximo replied, "I didn't take it to heart."

Fearing that he might be too tactful and she might not understand, Ren Fengjue said directly, "What I mean is, you don't have to pay me back."

"Um."

She responded with a faint expression.

This seems to make sense.

Ren Fengjue then carefully added, "Furthermore, even if we annul the engagement, if you still want to stay in the capital..."

"Probably not."

Xia Ximo replied, "I won't stay for long; I'll leave sooner or later."

When she said she was leaving, she meant leaving this world.

But Ren Fengjue felt a strange sensation upon hearing this.

He paused slightly. "It's alright. Even if you leave, there's no need to worry about money."

Xia Ximo also glanced at him.

As they looked at each other, the atmosphere inside the carriage inexplicably became strange.

Fortunately, they arrived at the intersection of East Street, and A-Xia stopped the car.

She walked straight down, and Ren Fengjue asked again, "Does Miss Xia have any money on her?"

"Um."

When she went out, Tianqing would slip a few pieces of silver into her purse.

If there is no carriage available, she can hire one herself.

"That's good."

Watching her figure disappear into the distance, Ren Fengjue turned to A Xia and instructed, "Don't go to the Ministry of Justice yet, go to the Secretariat-Chancellery."