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

Jiang Dusheng's bow was indeed very solemn.

With her hands clasped together and her wide sleeves hanging down, she bowed deeply, a few strands of her dark hair brushing against her porcelain-white cheeks.

With this bow, she thanked the emperor for his golden words. Today, she used the imperial power and dragon aura to completely sever the invisible shackles of blood ties.

Those who cultivate themselves value cause and effect most.

If she were to sever kinship ties herself, she would surely suffer a backlash from Heaven.

However, by borrowing the emperor's golden words, they cleverly avoided the backlash from Heaven that might have been caused by actively severing blood ties.

This kind of calculation can be described as killing two birds with one stone.

The banquet came to an end, and the lights gradually dimmed.

The Jiang family was distraught, and Jiang Mao and Song Suya seemed to want to rush over and say something to Jiang Dusheng.

However, before they could make a move, Shi Qinglian had already walked up to Jiang Dusheng.

"Nephew," he said gently, with the concern of an elder, "today's events have been quite turbulent. Would you mind coming with me to the Cleansing Platform for a while?"

Jiang Dusheng's eyes flickered slightly as he met those clear, light blue eyes and nodded: "I shall comply."

The Pure Heart Terrace is located deep within the palace and was a secluded retreat specifically for the Imperial Preceptor.

The place is secluded with flowers and trees, and the furnishings are simple, with only a table, two cushions, and a censer of sandalwood incense.

Shi Qinglian personally poured Jiang Dusheng a cup of clear tea. The tea soup was clear and green, with a delicate aroma.

"Years ago, my senior brother Huiming often wrote to me, always mentioning that he had taken on a very talented little apprentice. Although he was a bit cold-hearted, he was exceptionally intelligent and quick to understand."

A slight smile played on his lips. "Having witnessed it with my own eyes today, I know that what my senior brother said was true. To have someone break the temple rules and accept me as a disciple, he must indeed possess extraordinary abilities."

Jiang Dusheng accepted the teacup with both hands, smiled, and said, "Uncle-Master, you flatter me. It was just that Master took pity on me and taught me some self-defense skills. Today in the hall, I must thank you for your help."

Shi Qinglian seemed oblivious to her aloofness and continued to ask, her tone as casual as if they were exchanging pleasantries:

"Nephew, your return home this time is surely not just to sever worldly ties, is it? Is there anything else you wish to do, or anyone you wish to find?"

He asked casually, but his gaze fell on Jiang Dusheng's face.

Jiang Dusheng paused almost imperceptibly while drinking his tea.

She raised her eyes, looked at Shi Qinglian, and instead of answering, asked a question in the same light tone:

"Then why did you, my uncle, renounce your monastic life and enter the palace, the deepest part of the mortal world, back then?"

Their eyes met, and it felt as if an invisible string was taut in the air.

Suddenly, Shi Qinglian chuckled softly, her clear and melodious laughter breaking the momentary stillness.

"Your master is right, you are indeed smart and direct."

He shook his head, no longer pressing the matter, and instead said, "Since you have already obtained the freedom you desired through His Majesty's intervention..."

"Then listen to my advice: This Changling City, though seemingly prosperous and beautiful, is actually the deepest murky water in the world. Now that you've escaped, don't easily set foot in it again."

Jiang Dusheng put down his teacup, making a soft "tap" sound.

She tilted her head slightly, a hint of curiosity in her eyes, but her tone was tentative: "What if... I insist on getting involved in this mess?"

Shi Qinglian did not speak again.

He simply watched her quietly; her light blue eyes seemed to hold a galaxy of stars, yet also seemed utterly empty.

That gaze was no longer compassionate, no longer gentle, but only a bottomless calm, a calm that made one's heart sink.

After a long while, he looked away and said calmly, "It's late, you should leave the palace."

He paused, as if suddenly remembering something, and his tone warmed slightly: "By the way, have you found a place to stay?"

Jiang Dusheng did not directly answer the question about accommodation, but simply nodded in agreement: "It's time to leave the palace."

As she spoke, she seemed to just remember something, took out the bone flute from her sleeve, and handed it to Shi Qinglian, pointing with her fingertip to several cracks on the flute:

"Just now, in order to trap that vengeful spirit, I activated my spiritual power, which was damaged by the backlash. This flute has been with me for many years and has been blessed by incense for many years."

She looked up at Shi Qinglian with a serious expression. "Repairing such a spiritual object requires rare materials and is quite expensive. It costs ten thousand taels of silver. Aunt, would you prefer silver or silver notes?"

Even with her calm demeanor, Shi Qinglian couldn't help but be slightly taken aback.

Then, he chuckled softly, this time with a hint of appreciation in his laughter.

"Okay." He answered readily, as if the ten thousand taels were as easy as brushing dust off his sleeve.

With a slight twitch of his fingertips, he summoned a palm-sized paper figure without any facial features from who-knows-where.

The paper figure staggered to Jiang Dusheng, its two paper hands laboriously holding a thick stack of silver notes, and handed them over.

Jiang Dusheng accepted the money without changing his expression, but inwardly he sighed. The people in Changling City were indeed all incredibly wealthy, not even blinking an eye at ten thousand taels of silver.

Shi Qinglian seemed to see through her little scheme, and her smile deepened.

He then took out a neatly folded piece of paper from his wide, snow-white robe and handed it over:

"This is a small courtyard under my name, located in a quiet place in the west of the city, and is cleaned by a mute servant every day. If you do not have a suitable place to stay for the time being, you can stay here temporarily. It is a small token of my appreciation as your uncle."

Jiang Dusheng looked at the thin land deed but did not reach out to take it.

Debts of gratitude, especially those from this unfathomable senior uncle, are not easy to repay.

She has already taken advantage of his influence tonight; she cannot afford to owe him anything more.

She stood up, straightened her skirt, and nodded to Shi Qinglian again: "No need. The money is paid for, and tonight's matter is settled. Farewell, Martial Aunt."

After saying that, she didn't linger and turned to leave.

The pale purple dress cast a cool shadow in the moonlight, quickly disappearing at the end of the winding path at Jingxin Terrace.

Shi Qinglian sat alone on the futon, still holding the land deed that had not been accepted in her hand.

He gazed in the direction where Jiang Dusheng had disappeared, a thoughtful glint in his eyes.

His fingertips unconsciously caressed the Buddhist prayer beads on his wrist. The bead that sealed the emperor's vengeful spirit seemed to warm slightly as he thought about it.

Jiang Dusheng held the thick stack of silver notes in his hand and counted them as he walked, using the glow of the lanterns under the eaves.

As I counted, I unknowingly walked out of the Pure Heart Platform.

When she looked up again to try and figure out the direction, she suddenly realized that the surrounding palace walls were towering and the paths were intersecting, all looking similar, and she couldn't recognize the way to the palace gate at all.

She instinctively turned around, wanting to go back to the Jingxin Terrace to ask for directions, or find a palace maid or eunuch to guide her.

"Where to?"

A familiar voice came from not far away, its tone languid and distant.