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

into the night.

Willow Village was shrouded in a silent darkness, with only a few scattered lights in the distance, making it appear particularly desolate.

Following the scent of the talisman he had left for Huang Aman, Jiang Dusheng arrived at a somewhat secluded courtyard at the west end of the village.

By the dim moonlight, one could see a house made of rammed earth, low but fairly tidy, with a small courtyard enclosed by a fence.

She went up and knocked on the door.

Inside the room, there was a rustling sound of clothes rubbing together, and slightly hurried footsteps.

Then came Huang Aman's nervous voice, coming through the door, "So late, who...who is it?"

"It's me," Jiang Dusheng replied.

The courtyard gate opened a crack, and Huang Aman peeked out, revealing half of her haggard face. Upon recognizing Jiang Dusheng, her eyes immediately welled up with tears.

"Master, you really came!" Huang Aman's voice was choked with emotion, almost incoherent. "I thought you weren't coming. These past two days, I... I really..."

Unable to continue, she hastily wiped her eyes with her sleeve, pulled the door open completely, and stepped aside to make way.

Just then, her gaze fell on Jiang Dusheng's back, and she froze again.

Xie Jinchen stood half a step behind Jiang Dusheng, dressed in dark-colored close-fitting clothes, with a tall and straight figure.

Even in the dim light of night, his air of nobility was undeniable, making him stand out starkly from the simple farmhouse and the entire Willow Village.

Jiang Dusheng left the boisterous Wang Dazhuang in Changling City to guard the gate, and only took Xie Jinchen with him.

Noticing Huang Aman's stunned expression and the subconscious timidity she showed, Jiang Dusheng turned slightly to the side. "This is my helper."

Huang Aman suddenly came to her senses, realizing her lapse in composure, and was somewhat at a loss for words. "Quick, please come in. Please have a seat inside."

As soon as Jiang Dusheng and Xie Jinchen entered the house, the curtain in the inner room was lifted, and a girl of about sixteen or seventeen years old, dressed in coarse cloth, came out.

She had delicate features and her eyes and brows bore a resemblance to Huang Aman, but her complexion was somewhat pale and she looked worried.

When her gaze fell upon Jiang Dusheng and Xie Jinchen beside her, she visibly stiffened.

The appearance and demeanor of these two people were a huge shock to her, who had lived in a remote mountain village for many years.

A fleeting look of bewildered embarrassment and inferiority crossed her face. Staring at her worn-out cloth shoes, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes, she whispered, her voice barely audible, "Mother, who are these two?"

Huang Aman quickly stepped forward and brought her to Jiang Dusheng, saying, "Master, this is my daughter, Lian'er."

Then she said to Lian'er, "Lian'er, this is Master Jiang, whom I told you about, the one who promised to help us! Quickly, kowtow to the master! Thank him for saving our lives!"

He then tried to pull Lian'er down to kneel.

Jiang Dusheng quickly stepped aside and raised his hand to help him up, saying, "There's no need for that. Our fates are intertwined. Since I've agreed, I will do my best. The wedding is tomorrow night at midnight. I'll wait here."

Huang Aman was held up by that force and couldn't kneel down. She could only stand up straight, nodding repeatedly, her eyes reddening again: "Yes, yes, thank you, Master, thank you, Master!"

She nervously rubbed her hands together, then suddenly remembered something and hurriedly said, "Master, young master, please have a seat! I... I'll go get some water!"

Soon, Huang Aman came over with two bowls of water, her face full of embarrassment and apology:

"Master, young master, I'm truly sorry, my home is poor, and all I have is this plain water. And..."

She paused, rubbing her hands together, her expression of embarrassment deepening.

Huang Aman glanced at Jiang Dusheng, then quickly looked at Xie Jinchen, whose presence was extremely strong, and spoke with even greater difficulty:

"There's something else, but it's really hard to say. There are only two rooms in the house that people can live in."

"I'm afraid it will be inconvenient for you, young lady, to share a room with my mother and me tonight. Would the other room be suitable for this young master Xie?"

After speaking, she looked at Jiang Dusheng nervously, and then secretly glanced at Xie Jinchen's reaction, fearing that this simple arrangement would displease the important person, or even cause him to leave in a huff.

Jiang Dusheng's gaze swept over the small inner room with a tattered curtain hanging on it. The light was dim, and it could barely fit a wooden bed.

If the three of them were crammed together, they probably wouldn't even be able to turn over.

She shook her head almost without hesitation, "No need for that. I can share a room with him."

Upon hearing this, Huang Aman and Lian'er were both stunned. They looked up at Jiang Dusheng in astonishment, as if they had heard something unbelievable.

Immediately, their gazes involuntarily darted to Xie Jinchen beside them. Seeing his calm expression, they felt even more apprehensive and at a loss.

A man and a woman sharing a room?

This...this is a shocking and scandalous event, not to mention in a remote rural village like Willow Village, even in Changling City, it would be a major incident that would ruin one's reputation.

An eerie silence fell over the room, broken only by the occasional crackling sound of the oil lamp wick popping.

Seeing this, Xie Jinchen took a small step forward, and Jiang Dusheng gestured towards Huang Aman and her daughter, who looked surprised and doubtful, and said:

"We are engaged, and although we haven't officially tied the knot, we are already betrothed, as our elders know. Since we are traveling and there are many inconveniences, it is only natural for us to travel and stay together."

Jiang Dusheng turned his head and glanced at Xie Jinchen, but his lips moved and he ultimately did not utter a rebuttal.

Upon hearing this, Huang Aman and Lian'er suddenly realized what was happening, and the astonishment on their faces faded.

Although it was still somewhat improper for the unmarried couple to live together, at least there was a plausible reason, which also spared the mother and daughter from feeling guilty.

Huang Aman's embarrassment eased slightly, and she rubbed her hands together, saying, "Oh, so that's how it is. I was overthinking it. I didn't expect the two of you to have this kind of relationship. Well, then, we'll do as you say."

Xie Jinchen nodded slightly, indicating that it was alright.

Once inside, the door was closed, cutting off the view from the outside.

Xie Jinchen's gaze fell on Jiang Dusheng's slightly lowered profile, and he said, "The words you used outside just now were a temporary expedient."

"Although we are not bound by such formalities, since we are here, we must take into account the opinions and gossip of others when we act."

"If you are not married, the fact that an adult man and woman sleep in the same room will damage your reputation and inevitably attract unnecessary criticism and trouble."

He looked at Jiang Dusheng, who still had no expression, only her fingertips unconsciously curled up slightly.

"I know you've never cared about such empty fame and reputation, and you only act according to your conscience. But Jiang Dusheng," he said, his voice softening, "I don't want you to be bothered by those pointless rumors because of me, and I don't want others to look at you with strange eyes and criticize you."

Jiang Dusheng listened to his words but did not respond immediately.

She turned away somewhat awkwardly and walked towards the simple wooden plank bed, her back to him, her voice low but loud enough for him to hear, "I know."