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

Without the slightest hesitation, Jiang Dusheng's consciousness enveloped his soul core, which was violently curling up due to pain.

This feeling is too intimate, and too domineering.

It was as if another soul had shed all its barriers, clinging tightly to him, using its cold skin to soothe his burning wounds.

"Xie Jinchen," Jiang Dusheng's thoughts crashed into his chaotic mind, "Concentrate!"

Every thought she had was like a direct invasion, branding itself onto the sensitive parts of Xie Jinchen's soul.

Xie Jinchen's chaotic consciousness, amidst this unprecedented feeling, gave rise to a greedy urge, like a drowning person grasping at a piece of driftwood.

He began to unconsciously absorb Jiang Dusheng's consciousness, wanting both to push her away to avoid exposing more of her vulnerability and to integrate her into his burning soul, making her his own.

"Um…"

At the same time in reality, Jiang Dusheng and Xie Jinchen couldn't help but let out a muffled groan from their clenched teeth.

This feeling transcends the stimulation and trembling that any physical intimacy can bring; it is a fusion of souls nakedly facing each other.

Without reservation, there is nowhere to hide.

Jiang Dusheng's consciousness gradually faded, as if water enveloped him, seeping into every inch of him, bringing a slightly tingling coolness, as well as a strange yet surging pleasure.

It was as if the missing piece of his soul was being forcibly inserted, fitting perfectly. Pain and fulfillment intertwined, causing him to fall into despair, yet also giving him a new life.

Xie Jinchen's violence gradually subsided in her cool demeanor, and her tranquility was also rippled by his surging emotions.

Their breathing had long been synchronized in reality, their chests rising and falling in unison, their breaths completely intertwined, making them indistinguishable from one another.

What passed seemed to be an extremely long time, yet also as short as a moment.

Xie Jinchen's eyelashes trembled violently, and his tightly closed eyes snapped open.

A trace of crimson and lingering emotion remained in his eyes, but his gaze had already regained its clarity.

Jiang Dusheng also opened his eyes at the same time.

Eyes facing each other.

The air seemed to freeze for a moment.

Xie Jinchen's Adam's apple bobbed, his thin lips parted slightly, and his hoarse voice was about to break through his dry throat.

However, just before he uttered the first syllable.

A rare look of panic flashed in Jiang Dusheng's eyes.

Her movements were incredibly fast. With a flick of her fingers, a calming talisman was slapped onto Xie Jinchen's forehead.

The light that had just gathered in Xie Jinchen's eyes dissipated instantly, a look of astonishment flashed across his face, and then his body went limp and he fainted straight forward.

Jiang Dusheng reacted quickly, instinctively opening his arms and catching his falling body.

Xie Jinchen's cool aura and body temperature wafted through his clothes, and one could feel his hot breath on their necks.

This caused Jiang Dusheng's already flustered breathing to suddenly catch in his throat, and his heart felt as if it were being gripped tightly by an invisible hand, pounding violently.

A distinct blush rose uncontrollably to her cheeks, and the heat quickly spread, even tinging her ears and neck with crimson.

Jiang Dusheng barely managed to support the unconscious Xie Jinchen, using his own body to keep himself upright so that they wouldn't fall together.

She turned her head to look at Xie Jinchen, who seemed to be just asleep, and her mind went blank for a moment.

The intimate and indescribable fusion that had just occurred in her mind, along with the burning emotions and painful images belonging to Xie Jinchen, churned uncontrollably in her mind.

"I...I and Xie Jinchen..."

She muttered to herself, her voice carrying a hint of unbelievable absurdity.

However, at that moment, she felt her greatly depleted spiritual energy circulating at a speed far exceeding normal, faintly carrying a scorching masculine aura, blending seamlessly with her own cool spiritual energy.

Instead of being rejected, it actually stabilized her cultivation level considerably, and she even faintly touched the edge of breaking through to the next level.

The feeling was too obvious, too sudden.

Jiang Dusheng was stunned, feeling the unprecedented abundance of spiritual energy within her body. She unconsciously murmured:

"As expected of a powerful tonic... just that one moment and..."

As soon as the words left her mouth, she froze, belatedly realizing what she had said.

The blush that hadn't completely faded suddenly burned all the way down her neck, even her earlobes turned bright red, and she felt so hot she was practically steaming.

She hurriedly looked around, but the little girl was gone.

Jiang Dusheng scratched his slightly messy hair in frustration, remained silent for a moment, and then looked at Xie Jinchen, who was leaning against him. As if to tell him, or as if to convince himself, he said, "Xie Jinchen, I... I'm a little confused."

Her voice was soft, tinged with an unusual uncertainty, "I'll send you out first, and then I'll calm down for a couple of days... just two days. I'll come find you after I've thought things through, okay?"

Jiang Dusheng took a deep breath, preparing to lift Xie Jinchen's tall body again and find a way to leave the mountain god temple.

however…

Just as she exerted a little force, trying to wrap his arm around her shoulder, Xie Jinchen, who had been leaning his entire weight on her, suddenly opened his eyes.

Those eyes were clear and sharp, showing no trace of the drowsiness caused by the calming talisman.

He slowly straightened up, freeing himself from Jiang Dusheng's support, and swayed slightly before regaining his balance.

He lowered his head, his gaze fixed intently on Jiang Dusheng, who was completely frozen in place by his sudden awakening.

Xie Jinchen's voice was somewhat hoarse, and a bitter smile appeared on his lips:

"Jiang Dusheng," he called her name, each word seemingly squeezed from his chest, "you're so heartless..."

Jiang Dusheng was struck dumb, stammering, "You...how did you wake up? That calming talisman..."

"You forgot?" Xie Jinchen interrupted her, his tone calm but imposing.

He took a step closer, giving her no room to dodge, "I used to practice the heretical path..."

Xie Jinchen paused, looked into her eyes, and said, word by word, "Although you later abandoned them all, your body and soul are far more resistant to those things than ordinary people."

"You think a mere calming talisman can make me fall into a deep sleep without even realizing it?"

He shook his head, his eyes churning with emotions she had never seen before. "Jiang Dusheng, you underestimate me. And you underestimate... the trace you just left in my soul."

Jiang Dusheng was so intimidated by his imposing aura that he felt a chill run down his spine and instinctively retreated until his back hit the altar of the mountain god temple behind him, which was still stained with some dark red cinnabar. He had nowhere left to retreat.

Xie Jinchen did not stop.

He stretched out his arms and braced himself on the edges of the table on either side of her body, his tall and imposing figure leaning slightly forward, completely trapping her in this small space.

Xie Jinchen lowered his head, his breath close to his, hot and scalding. "Jiang Dusheng, we've already gone through that in the sea of ​​consciousness... and you still want to avoid me so much?"

"No!" Jiang Dusheng panicked and tried to explain, but when he looked up, he met the dark eyes that were so close to him that they seemed to suck in one's soul.

The undercurrents churning within her sent a shiver down her spine, and her voice involuntarily softened, "I'm just a little confused, I want to have some peace and quiet for a couple of days..."

"Two days of peace and quiet?"

Xie Jinchen seemed to have heard something absurd, and let out a soft laugh.

There was no joy in that laughter, only a madness and stubbornness on the verge of spiraling out of control:

"Jiang Dusheng, look at this world. You must ferry vengeful spirits, slay evil spirits, and intervene in injustices..."

Xie Jinchen paused, a hint of dark red appearing in his eyes, his voice hoarse:

"You guide all living beings to enlightenment, so could you... also guide me?"

These words struck Jiang Dusheng's heart like a heavy hammer.

"I struggled out of the ashes, not seeking Buddhahood, nor seeking liberation or rebirth in the Pure Land."

Xie Jinchen looked at her, his gaze burning with despair, like a gambler who had made a desperate gamble. "I only ask that you... give me the rest of my life."