The Northern Song Dynasty returned south, seeking the truth of the Dao.

Wang Zhenhuan didn't speak, but instead squinted at the female ghost. Seemingly uneasy, the white-clad figure was rather flustered, and seeing Wang Zhenhuan remain silent...

She hesitated for a moment, as if she had made up her mind. After bowing to Wang Huanzhen, she said, "Young Taoist priest, I am Chen Ruoruo, the daughter of Chen Shanren, from the other side of the Huai River. I have no choice but to visit you tonight. Please forgive me, Taoist priest."

The female ghost was young, and her voice was as melodious as a nightingale's. Her demeanor was also quite dignified; she didn't directly ask Wang Zhenhuan for help, but instead apologized first, giving Wang Zhenhuan ample face.

Wang Zhen really admired this; this Miss Chen clearly understood this principle well. She was reasonable and considerate in her dealings with others. She didn't seem to be the spoiled young lady the rumors suggested.

Since the other party had adopted such a humble attitude, Wang Zhen saw no need to put on airs. He waved his hand at Chen Ruoruo and said, "It's nothing. May I ask what brings you here so late at night, young lady?"

Wang Huanzhen gazed thoughtfully at Chen Ruoruo's translucent body. When an ordinary person dies, their soul leaves the body and becomes a ghost. If this ghost is not sent to the underworld by the underworld officials and does not receive nourishment from yin energy, it will gradually dissipate.

However, although Chen Ruoruo's body was transparent, the folds of her clothes, hairpins, and other belongings from her previous life were all clearly visible. This indicates that since she became a ghost, she had been nourished by yin energy, which is why her soul was preserved.

While Wang Huanzhen was sizing her up, Chen Ruoruo thought for a moment and then spoke up: "I believe you can see that I came here because I heard from the innkeeper that there is a young Taoist priest staying here. I have come to ask you to help me."

"The affairs of the underworld are governed by the underworld officials. They are beyond my control. Besides, humans and ghosts are on different paths. Why should Miss Chen dwell on matters from her previous life?" Wang Zhenhuan gestured for her to sit down and then poured her a cup of tea.

"Master, you have misunderstood me. It is not that I am unable to forget you, but that my wish has not been fulfilled and I find it difficult to leave. May I ask, Master, have you heard anything about the Chen family from the people in the vicinity?" Chen Ruoruo said with a sorrowful expression.

"I've heard a little about it, but rumors are just things you hear and pass around. It's hard to tell what's true and what's false," Wang Huanzhen said, shaking his head. He was well aware that rumors often contain exaggerations.

"If that's the case, then please let me explain in detail, Daoist Master. If, after listening, you still don't wish to participate, then I will have no further objections. I will simply consider this an intrusion and leave now. Is that acceptable, Daoist Master?"

Although Chen Ruoruo's tone was gentle, Wang Zhenhuan could still hear the sorrow in it. Since she had said such things, Wang Zhenhuan had no reason to refuse.

So he nodded and extended his hand to Chen Ruoruo, saying, "Of course, Miss Ruoruo, please."

After speaking, he picked up the teacup in front of him, gently blew on it, and took a small sip. Chen Ruoruo was somewhat excited upon hearing Wang Zhenhuan's words. She looked up, seemingly pondering where to begin.

Seeing Wang Zhenhuan drinking tea, she also reached out and waved her hand at the teacup. The tea in front of her, which had been steaming hot, instantly cooled down. The water level also subtly dropped a little.

After drinking her tea, Chen Ruoruo softly began to tell Wang Zhenhuan, "All of this started with the river god of the Huai River. I only learned about this later from my father."

When my father was young, our family wasn't as wealthy as it is now. We could barely make ends meet. My father also failed the imperial examinations, so he had no hope of becoming an official. Therefore, he had to return home to farm and take care of my elderly parents.

"That's how it should be. While parents are alive, one should not travel far; if one must travel, one should have a fixed destination," Wang Huanzhen nodded in agreement.

"Life would have continued like this, but unfortunately, my father was not one to settle for mediocrity. You could tell from his insistence on going to school."

"I heard that one day when he went up the mountain, he met a turtle the size of a millstone on the Huai River. The turtle claimed to be the god of the Huai River, and it told my father that it could grant him wealth and honor, but he had to agree to one condition of the giant turtle." Chen Ruoruo shook her head and said.

"If I'm not mistaken, everything that followed started from here, didn't it?" Wang Zhenhuan asked.

"The Taoist priest was indeed wise. The giant tortoise demanded that my father hire someone to perform a ritual for it in the mid-autumn of ten years later to help it transform into human form. My father was blinded by wealth and agreed."

The giant tortoise gave my father a yellow stone. This stone was incredibly magical; if carried with one's person, it could reveal buried treasures up to three feet underground, and the same was true in water.

My father was overjoyed when he received the treasure. From then on, our family gradually became wealthy and never lacked money. Until last month, in the Mid-Autumn Festival, the ten-year period came to an end.

My father, however, forgot his promise to the river god. On the second night of mid-autumn, the river god came to my father, demanding an explanation and the return of the stone from which treasure could be found.

With a sorrowful expression, Chen Ruoruo continued, "I never imagined that my father, unwilling to give up his wealth, would want to marry me off to the River God of the Huai River as an apology. The River God is ugly, and I have never met him before, so naturally I am unwilling."

But my father, for some unknown reason, became obsessed. He, who had always doted on me, was now determined to marry me off. I tried to run away several times, but was caught each time. Eventually, I lost all hope and hanged myself at home.

"It's just a stone that can find treasure, surely that shouldn't make your father so adamant? He's accumulated wealth over more than a decade, so even without this stone, he shouldn't be doing too badly, right?" Wang Zhen asked doubtfully.

"As expected, you can't hide it from the Daoist Master. I only found out after I died. That stone that can find treasure is a tortoise treasure that the river god of the Huai River was born with during his cultivation. Not only can it find treasure, but wearing it can also prolong life," Chen Ruoruo explained.

"No wonder." Wang Zhenhuan nodded. For a wealthy man in his middle age, more money could no longer tempt him. Only longevity and a long life could make him make such a stubborn move.

"So it seems you've already met with the River God of the Huai River? Your soul must be the one he helped protect, right?" Wang Zhenhuan continued.

"I admire your divine wisdom, Daoist Master. I only learned this after I died, when I met the river god of the Huai River. Because the tortoise treasure was missing, he could not fully transform into human form, and therefore could not continue his cultivation."

The river god only wants to retrieve his turtle treasure and has no intention of harming anyone. I am now a spirit, and I intended to return home tonight to help the river god retrieve the turtle treasure and settle this karmic debt.

Unexpectedly, my father invited a master from Puji Temple to perform a ritual to protect the entire courtyard. I was unable to enter, and filled with sorrow, I could only weep at the gate every night.