After the ghost-hunting master descended the mountain, his fame spread throughout the capital.

The night grew darker on the way to the Zhou residence.

Xie Jinchen's dozen or so bodyguards no longer concealed themselves and revealed themselves, joining the group.

Their movements carried an air of chilling ruthlessness born of years of experience, a stark contrast to the silent street.

The magistrate's residence was not far from the inn, and the group walked there in silence.

The streets were deserted, and the doors of the houses on both sides were tightly closed. Occasionally, the barking of dogs came from the deep alleys, adding to the desolation of the late night.

Wang Dazhuang walked behind Jiang Dusheng and keenly sensed the subtle yet tense atmosphere between her and Xie Jinchen.

Jiang Dusheng remained expressionless, staring straight ahead at the road, radiating an aura that said, "Keep away, strangers and even familiar ghosts."

Xie Jinchen walked half a step to her side, equally silent, his back straight.

The two were very close, yet it felt as if there was an invisible ice wall between them.

Xie Jinchen's hand, hanging by his side, twitched slightly at the knuckles.

He seemed to hesitate briefly, then moved his arm slightly, his fingers reaching towards Jiang Dusheng's hand, which was hanging naturally at his side.

However, just as his fingertips were about to touch Jiang Dusheng, Jiang Dusheng avoided his touch.

Then, he raised his arm and crossed it with his other arm in front of his chest, creating a distant posture.

Her movements were fluid and graceful, and even her facial expression remained unchanged, as if she were simply feeling the cool night breeze and hugging her arms for warmth.

Xie Jinchen's outstretched hand missed its target, pausing for a moment in mid-air. His fingertips curled slightly, but he ultimately withdrew it silently and let it hang back at his side.

Wang Dazhuang, who was following behind, took in the whole scene. He felt uneasy and shrank back.

But curiosity ultimately prevailed, and he quietly approached Jiang Dusheng, asking in a whisper that only the two of them could hear, "Master, did you and Prince Xie have a falling out?"

Jiang Dusheng didn't stop walking, only glancing at him sideways with a chilling look in his eyes.

Wang Dazhuang understood what she meant: if you ask one more question, I'll fold you into a paper boat and put you in the river.

Wang Dazhuang instantly felt a chill run down his spine and immediately fell silent. He quickly moved several feet away, thinking to himself: Well, it seems it really got noisy.

Before long, the Zhou residence stood prominently before us.

The vermilion gate and towering courtyard walls, illuminated by two large red lanterns hanging at the entrance, exude an extraordinary grandeur, even a touch of imposing authority.

The two stone lions crouching at the entrance, baring their teeth and claws, looked even more ferocious in the flickering light and shadow, as if they might pounce at any moment.

The light from the lanterns under the eaves clearly illuminated the black plaque with gold lettering above the door.

The two large gilded characters "Zhou Mansion" are written with vigorous strokes.

Wang Dazhuang couldn't help but click his tongue, then quietly walked back to Jiang Dusheng's side, lowering his voice and exclaiming in amazement:

"No wonder they call themselves local tyrants! Master, look at this house, its grandeur, these stone lions... tsk tsk, it's almost on par with your Jiang family!"

Xie Jinchen's gaze fell on the tightly closed vermilion door, and a chill settled over him.

A bodyguard stepped forward and knocked on the door knocker.

After a short while, the door creaked open a crack, and a sleepy-eyed gatekeeper dressed in servant's clothes poked his head out and asked impatiently:

"Who is it? What are you knocking about in the middle of the night! Do you know where you are? You've disturbed the master, you..."

His complaints stopped abruptly.

Because the guard had already held the token in his hand directly in front of his eyes, almost touching his nose.

The guard's voice was devoid of any emotion, "The Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review is here on imperial orders to see your magistrate. Open the door immediately!"

The gatekeeper trembled at the words on the token and the imposing aura of the guards, all sleepiness vanished, and he stammered:

"Sir, sir, I will report to you immediately, please wait a moment..."

As he spoke, he instinctively tried to shrink back inside the door and close it again.

However, the guards were quick and nimble; the instant he tried to pull his hand away, they had already firmly grasped his arm. The force was neither strong enough to injure his bones, but it rendered him completely immobile.

The guard's voice remained cold and uncompromising, "No need for notification. Lead the way to your master."

The gatekeeper's arm ached, and seeing that the other side had a large number of people and a murderous aura, he dared not put up any resistance.

With a long face, he led the group through several courtyards to a rather elegant study with bright lights.

The gatekeeper, seeing that they were almost there, suddenly shouted at the top of his lungs, "Master! Master, help! Someone has broken into the mansion!"

That shout was particularly jarring in the quiet night, instantly shattering the apparent tranquility of the Zhou residence.

"Bang!"

The study door was suddenly pushed open, and a man in his fifties, slightly overweight, dressed in brocade casual clothes, strode out.

His gaze swept across the crowd in front of the door, lingering for a moment longer on the naturally noble Xie Jinchen and the aloof and icy-eyed Jiang Dusheng.

Immediately, he adopted the airs of a local official, his brow furrowed, and he sternly rebuked:

"Who are you?! How dare you trespass on the residence of a high-ranking official in the dead of night, armed with weapons?! You've disturbed my official duties! Is there no law left?! Guards—"

He made a gesture as if to summon the guards and servants.

The guard who had been standing there held his token high, his voice loud and clear, instantly drowning out Zhou Xian's reprimand:

"Lord Xie, Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, has been ordered to investigate a case!"

Zhou Xian's gaze fell on the token, his pupils contracted slightly, and a smile instantly spread across his face. His ability to change his expression was truly remarkable.

He stepped forward, cupped his hands in a respectful bow, and spoke with a tone that was both warm and subtly tinged with apprehension:

"Oh my, it's Young Master Xie! I'm so sorry for not greeting you properly! Please come in, Your Highness, and take a seat in the study! Someone, bring tea!"

Xie Jinchen stood rooted to the spot, motionless, coldly watching his performance, and cut to the chase with a chilling voice:

"No need."

"Magistrate Zhou," he paused, "where is your household stewardess, Granny Zhou, now?"

Zhou Xian's smile froze for a moment, a fleeting shadow of gloom flashing across his eyes, only to be quickly replaced by an innocent expression.

He blinked, looking confused, and asked, "Granny Zhou? Which Granny Zhou is the young master referring to?"

"There are many servants in the manor, including two or three old women surnamed Zhou. I wonder which one the young master is looking for? Did she accidentally bump into the young master's entourage?"

He patted his chest, looking determined to uphold justice:

"If she is ignorant of her place and offends the Prince, please inform me! I will punish her severely without mercy!"

Stop pretending to be confused.

Xie Jinchen's tone lost its last bit of patience, and he didn't even bother to give him another glance.

He raised his right hand and made a gesture.

"Take it down."

The moment he finished speaking, the two bodyguards who had been standing behind him moved like ghosts, one on the left and one on the right, their target clear, heading straight for Zhou Xian.

Upon seeing this, Zhou Xian's fawning expression vanished instantly.

Instead of panicking, he suddenly took a big step back, his body, which had been slightly bowed in a show of weakness, suddenly straightened up.

Two men in black suddenly darted out from Zhou Xian's side and stopped the two bodyguards.

He no longer concealed his intentions, his gaze re-examining Xie Jinchen with a cold and unrestrained air, while also casting a scrutinizing glance at Jiang Dusheng beside him, whose expression was equally cold.

Suddenly, he let out a sneer, a laugh filled with sarcasm. "Young Master Xie, so young, yet holding such a high position."

"Some things, wouldn't it be better to be a wise fool, quietly return to your Changling City, continue being the chosen one of heaven, and enjoy your immense wealth?"

His fat face no longer bore any trace of the humility an official should show when facing a superior; instead, it exuded arrogance and ruthlessness.

"Why bother coming to this remote and impoverished place to stir up trouble? This water could drown people."

Before he could finish speaking—

"Swish! Swish! Swish!"