Bai Suzhen, I really need to punish you properly.

Xiaoqing gently pounded Wang Xuan's body with her small hands, causing a subtle change in his body.

Xiaoqing was now used to snuggling in Wang Xuan's arms, but she still couldn't resist Wang Xuan's more intimate actions. She swayed her body and suddenly stood up.

Wang Xuan looked at Xiao Qing as she got up, speechless, and complained, "Every time I hug her, I feel like you've poured a bucket of cold water on me."

Xiaoqing's cheeks flushed, and she softly hummed, "Every time you hug me, I feel like you've poured a bucket of hot water on me."

Wang Xuan couldn't help but chuckle.

……

The next day.

early morning.

Wang Xuan and Zhong Li rode in a carriage, slowly heading towards Lingyin Temple.

The two sat facing each other, the carriage swaying slightly, and all around was so quiet that only the soft sound of the wheels rolling could be heard.

A subtle, ambiguous atmosphere gradually spread.

Zhong Li looked up and met Wang Xuan's gentle, smiling gaze.

For some reason, Zhong Li, who had always lived alone, felt a shy and tender flutter in her heart as she smelled the faint scent of the man in front of her in the cramped carriage.

Wang Xuan yawned subconsciously.

Zhong Li asked softly with concern, "Brother Wang Xuan, didn't you sleep well last night?"

"I was dealing with official business last night, so it got quite late."

Wang Xuan casually explained that it was actually a battle with Bai Suzhen that lasted all night.

However, Wang Xuan considered it a draw.

Zhong Li looked uneasy and asked softly, "Brother Wang Xuan, will our outing today interfere with your official duties?"

Wang Xuan smiled faintly and replied softly, "No. Your matter is naturally part of official business as well."

After a moment's hesitation, Zhong Li spoke again: "Brother Wang Xuan, I heard from Sister Yan Zhi that some of the ladies in the manor are... demons, is that true?"

The women were all stunningly beautiful and possessed an ethereal quality, making it difficult for her to associate any of them with spirits or monsters.

Wang Xuan nodded and said gently, "It's true. Are you a little scared?"

Zhong Li lowered his head shyly and said truthfully, "There was a little bit at the time."

"You're much braver than I was back then. I was terrified." Wang Xuan gently patted the top of her head to comfort her. "Don't worry, whether they're human, demon, or ghost, they're all kind-hearted and would never hurt you."

Zhong Li raised her head, a faint blush rising on her cheeks. This gentle head pat was impossible to dodge, making her heart pound.

Wang Xuan joked with a smile, "Otherwise, I wouldn't dare to help you find your brother. If he came looking for me, he would tear my family apart."

Zhong Kui was upright and impartial, and did not kill every demon he saw. Therefore, Wang Xuan had nothing to worry about when Zhong Kui came to visit.

Zhong Li couldn't help but smile, then asked in confusion, "Brother Wang Xuan, you already have a child?"

"No, that's not it, it's just the word that came to mind first."

Zhong Li smiled slightly, finding Wang Xuan quite witty and easygoing.

She asked curiously, "Brother Wang Xuan, who are we meeting today? What should I call him?"

"Just call him the Holy Monk; given his character, he deserves that title."

The two chatted casually in the car, and Zhong Li gradually opened up and became less reserved.

The carriage slowly drove out of the city gate, traveled along several bumpy mountain roads, and finally came to a steady stop in front of the Lingyin Temple gate.

After Lao Liu went in to report,

Before long, the abbot of Lingyin Temple, along with a group of monks who were in charge of the temple, came out to greet them personally.

Zhong Li stood beside Wang Xuan, quietly waiting for the group of people to come to them.

The abbot of Lingyin Temple bowed slightly, his right hand clasped in front of his chest: "Amitabha, this old monk Yuankong greets Lord Wang. We were unaware of your arrival today and have failed to greet you properly."

Wang Xuan nodded in acknowledgment and got straight to the point: "Abbot, there's no need for formalities. I've come to see Daoji today."

The fat monk standing nearby looked startled and quickly leaned close to the thin monk beside him, whispering, "Has Daoji gotten into trouble again?"

The thin monk lowered his voice and agreed, "I think it's very likely."

Wang Xuan took in the two men's subtle actions. These two men must be Guangliang and Biqing, the reincarnations of the fat and thin fairy children.

His favorite pastime is to trip up Daoji.

However, Daoji often played pranks on the two of them.

They were a pair of star-crossed lovers.

Yuan Kong turned to Guang Liang: "Guang Liang, where's your junior brother?"

"I just saw him secretly eating a chicken leg." Guangliang then looked at Biqing and instructed, "Biqing, go and find Daoji quickly."

"No need to look anymore, I'm here."

Daoji, fanning himself with a worn-out palm-leaf fan, strolled forward leisurely. Facing Wang Xuan, he showed little respect for the government, laughing, "You actually came to see me in person today. Have you run into some trouble again?"

"Abbot, fellow masters, you may all leave now." Wang Xuan waved his hand. "I'd like to have a few words with Daoji."

The monks of Lingyin Temple gradually dispersed, and the accompanying yamen runners waited at a distance, leaving only Wang Xuan, Zhong Li, and Daoji behind.

Daoji glanced at the pretty girl beside Wang Xuan and teased with a smile, "The magistrate's luck with women is truly remarkable."

Wang Xuan nodded in agreement and said in a serious tone, "Yes, ever since I met Yan Zhi, my luck with women has been unstoppable."

Daoji couldn't help but twitch his lips.

I'm so pathetic, always bringing up things I shouldn't have said.

He dropped his joking expression and asked, "So, what do you want with me, monk?"

Wang Xuan took out a letter and handed it to Daoji.

"Miss Zhong Li's brother is Zhong Kui, the judge of the underworld who punishes evil. She misses her brother day and night, so she wants to ask you to deliver a letter to him."

Zhong Li looked at Daoji with expectant eyes.

Daoji took the letter and sighed helplessly, "I, the monk, am truly never free. However, I am only responsible for delivering the letter; I cannot guarantee when he will see it."

Zhong Li happily thanked him, saying, "Thank you, Holy Monk!"

Daoji waved his hand: "Don't call me Holy Monk, Holy Monk, it puts a lot of pressure on me."

Wang Xuan generously said, "I'll make an exception this time; you don't need to report to the county government for your trip."

Daoji was both amused and exasperated: "Then, monk, should I thank you?"

"One thing at a time."

After Wang Xuan finished speaking, she grabbed Zhong Li's wrist, turned around and left, saying as she walked:

"Just wait patiently. It's possible that your brother is somewhere exorcising demons and is not in the underworld. Once he sees this, he will definitely come to the county office to see you immediately."

Wang Xuan was thinking that the later Zhong Kui arrived, the better.

This will allow them to have more emotional interaction.

"Thank you, Brother Wang Xuan."

The two boarded the carriage again and set off back to the county government office.