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

Yi Che didn't speak. He bent down, placed his hands on Jiang Shuangjiang's cold, trembling shoulders, and forcefully lifted her up.

He raised his hand, his fingertips gently brushing away the tears at the corner of her eye, his gaze firm yet tender. "Shuang'er, don't talk about owing or not. If Heaven has eyes, it should be striking down those beasts, not you, and certainly not me, who wanted to help you!"

His voice was slightly hoarse, "Now, let me be the knife in your hand, cutting down the stones that are hindering you! I'm willing to do anything to help you!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Jiang Shuangjiang's body trembled violently. Looking at the undisguised sincerity and determination in Yi Che's eyes, a huge wave of bitterness and guilt surged into her heart.

"Ah Che, you... don't blame me? I approached you with this already impure soul, deceived you, and even... even considered absorbing your yang energy..."

"Don't say that!" Yi Che interrupted her, his voice firm and resolute. "What's filthy is the hearts of those worse than pigs and dogs, what's despicable is their methods! It's never you!"

He steadied Jiang Shuangjiang's trembling shoulders with both hands, his gaze as scorching as the sun, trying to dispel all the gloom in her heart. "Shuang'er, listen carefully. You came into this world innocently, and were innocently pushed into the mud!"

"You left with scars and resentment, yet you were cleaner than most living people in this world!"

Xie Jinchen stood to the side, constantly keeping an eye on Jiang Dusheng's condition.

He noticed that the hand holding his was losing warmth rapidly at its fingertips, turning icy cold.

He subtly tightened his grip, pulling Jiang Dusheng closer to his side, and broke the heavy atmosphere by saying, "Alright. You two discuss it yourselves. We're leaving now."

Jiang Dusheng's face appeared somewhat pale in the candlelight, but his eyes remained clear.

Before leaving, she looked at Jiang Shuangjiang one last time and spoke quickly, "Miss Jiang, the time three days from now, at midnight, will be the time when the yin energy is at its strongest."

Seeing Jiang Shuangjiang's puzzled expression, she briefly added, "In May, the earth's energy surges, and it also coincides with..."

She looked up, as if gazing at the night sky through the roof, "When the constellations rotate to the Ghost Constellation, Yin energy gathers. At that time, even the power of talismans and statues will be suppressed to some extent, making it the best time for your soul power to be unleashed."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Shuangjiang's spirit suddenly became solemn, and she bowed deeply once more, "I will never forget Miss Jiang's guidance!"

Xie Jinchen said no more, gripped Jiang Dusheng's cold hand tightly, turned around and led her away from Yi Che's residence.

Just as they stepped out of the mansion, Jiang Dusheng suddenly stopped, her brows furrowing. She grabbed Xie Jinchen's arm and whispered, "Something's wrong! Wang Dazhuang is in trouble!"

Xie Jinchen's expression hardened, and he instantly realized what was happening.

Wang Dazhuang's body was cut by Jiang Dusheng, and there is a special spiritual connection between them, so it's not surprising that she can sense it.

His gaze swept over her pale face and obviously weak breathing. He made a quick decision, "Save your energy, I'll take you there."

As soon as he finished speaking, he pulled the person into his arms, his arms steady and strong. "Give me directions."

This wasn't the first time the two had been so intimate, and Jiang Dusheng didn't care about the rules between men and women; conserving energy was the priority.

She wrapped her arms around his waist, closed her eyes, and focused her mind, following the faint yet clear connection: "Turn left, go straight, the alley on the right..."

Xie Jinchen obeyed and sped away, his figure moving so fast that only a blur remained.

However, as the path became clearer, his aura suddenly turned cold.

He suddenly stopped in front of a high wall, gently put Jiang Dusheng down, and looked at her by the light of the lanterns by the roadside, his eyes cold and sharp: "No need to point. I know who did it."

Jiang Dusheng steadied himself against the wall, met his gaze, and understood immediately.

"It is my father, Duke Xie." Xie Jinchen's voice was extremely low, but every word was firm.

He grasped Jiang Dusheng's icy hand and said quickly, "The Duke's mansion has formations, spies, and even special mechanisms to counter Xuanmen's methods."

"You absolutely cannot let him see any weakness in your current state, or there will be endless trouble. Go back and wait for me; I'll go and bring Wang Dazhuang back."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Dusheng shook her head resolutely, grasped his hand firmly, her grip not strong but stubborn, "No. I'll go with you."

She paused, met his furrowed brows, and whispered, "I'm worried."

Xie Jinchen was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, then assumed that she was worried about Wang Dazhuang's safety.

He raised his hand and tucked a strand of hair that had been ruffled by the wind behind her ear. His voice softened, a rare occurrence for him. "Don't worry, I will bring you back safe and sound. Go back and wait for me."

After saying this, he summoned the guards hidden in the shadows and ordered in a deep voice, "Escort Miss Jiang back to her residence, and make sure she is safe and sound."

"Xie Jinchen! I..." Jiang Dusheng wanted to say something more.

Xie Jinchen paused, turned around, and gave her a deep look. "Jiang Dusheng, trust me."

As soon as he finished speaking, he swayed and disappeared into the night leading to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion in a few leaps.

Xie Jinchen returned to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion. It was late at night, and most of the courtyards were dark. Only the regular footsteps of the night patrol guards could be heard.

He walked straight through the many corridors and arrived at the main courtyard where Xie Dai lived.

The guards at the courtyard gate, upon seeing him, quickly bowed, but looked troubled. "Young Master, the Duke has already retired for the night. Perhaps tomorrow…?"

Xie Jinchen raised his hand, and a hidden guard appeared silently from behind him, instantly silencing the guard's movements and voices.

Without stopping, he walked to the main house and gently patted the closed door.

"Old man," his voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly into the inner room, "what do you mean? Are you hiding from me?"

A moment of silence fell over the room, followed by a loud, furious shout: "You brat! How dare you talk to your father like that?!"

Immediately afterwards, the door creaked open.

The man who appeared inside the door was over forty years old, tall and burly. Even though he was wearing pajamas, he could not hide the fierce aura that came from years of battlefield experience.

He had thick, dark eyebrows, a high nose, and a pair of fierce eyes that, though filled with anger, were still piercing and piercing.

Time has etched shallow lines on his forehead, but instead of diminishing his heroic spirit, it has made him appear even more profound and unfathomable.

Xie Jinchen seemed oblivious to the anger on his father's face, casually leaning against the doorframe and cutting straight to the point, "Where is he?"

Xie Dai glared at him, not bothering to beat around the bush, and snorted coldly: "So you're protecting her like that? Can't even your father take a peek at your hidden beauty, what kind of beauty is she?"

Xie Jinchen, too lazy to argue at the door, stepped inside, found a chair, and sat down, his tone somewhat nonchalant:

"That girl doesn't like me, there's no sign of anything going on. What if you scare her away by making such a big fuss by inviting her here?"

"If she runs away, I'll go to my mother's tomb tomorrow and cry, saying that you scared my future wife away."