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

Jiang Dusheng had barely settled down and hadn't even had a chance to speak when Xie Jinchen stood up, solemnly cupped his hands, and bowed deeply to Xuanji Zhenren.

"Junior Xie Jinchen, I am deeply grateful to Senior for the Buddhist beads and longsword you bestowed upon me in my early years." He raised his head, his gaze clear and sincere:

"That string of prayer beads protected my mind and saved me from danger many times when my evil energy was out of control and my mind wavered. That sword also helped me to slay evil spirits and protect myself. I will always remember this kindness and never forget it. Today, I am honored to meet you, senior, and I would like to express my gratitude."

Jiang Dusheng was completely stunned upon hearing this.

She abruptly turned to look at Xie Jinchen, then at her master, her eyes wide with surprise. "That string of Buddhist prayer beads... was it given to me by you, Master?"

Master Xuanji waved his hand, his expression dismissive and not worth mentioning, but a hint of satisfaction flashed deep in his eyes.

He sized up Xie Jinchen, who stood tall and had a frank gaze, and snorted:

"Alright, alright, it's all old news, why bring it up? I was just traveling around back then, it was nothing more than a casual thing. And look at you, you haven't gone astray, you still know how to protect this silly girl, so my efforts weren't in vain."

He pointed to the stone bench. "Don't stand there, sit down and talk. I have important questions for you, about that Emperor's Soul, and... how did you all survive?"

After Xie Jinchen sat down again, Jiang Dusheng, unable to contain his doubts, stared at Xuanji Zhenren as if trying to bore a hole through his composed face:

"We persuaded the Emperor of Fengdu to retrieve the Emperor's soul. Master, what exactly happened? When did you see Xie Jinchen? And why…?"

Master Xuanji, who was holding a teacup, almost spat out his tea upon hearing this, coughing and choking, causing the teacup in his hand to tremble.

He suddenly stood up, his eyes wide open like saucers, all traces of the composure of a reclusive master vanished, and his voice rose several octaves:

"What?! You...you saw the Emperor of Fengdu?!"

His face was filled with regret as he beat his chest and stamped his feet, exclaiming, "I...I actually missed it! Such an opportunity is a once-in-a-lifetime chance!"

Seeing his master's utterly unseemly and heartbroken appearance, Jiang Dusheng's brow twitched involuntarily, and he spoke:

"Master, please tell me first, when did you meet Xie Jinchen and return the item to him?"

Master Xuanji finally snapped out of his regret at missing the Emperor of Fengdu and sat down again.

He sipped his tea, shook his head smugly, and his gray beard twitched with each movement.

"Hehe, it's a long story. I've been traveling around for many years, and I happened to pass by the border and caught a glimpse of this kid."

Master Xuanji pointed at Xie Jinchen, "He was about ten years old at that time. He had just experienced a change in his life and his murderous aura was beginning to show. He practiced fighting wild beasts alone in the forest."

As he recalled, a hint of emotion flashed in his eyes, "But, when I did some calculations, or rather, when I looked into his aura, I found that this kid's fate was shrouded in dark clouds and afflicted by ominous stars, destined for a very difficult life. But the strange thing is that, among those messy fate lines, there was a hint of something that was inextricably linked to you, girl."

He put down his teacup, his expression becoming slightly more serious. He stroked his beard and said, "There are many rules in the way of Heaven. Some things cannot be said openly, and some secrets of Heaven cannot be revealed."

"I certainly can't directly interfere in the fates of mortals, especially not in such a big way as yours. But seeing this kid's body tainted with malevolent energy, and the risk of him falling into demonic possession at such a young age, and yet he happens to have a connection with my foolish disciple... I can't just stand by and watch him die before he's even fully grown, can I?"

Master Xuanji shrugged, looking as if he were also in a difficult position: "Since I can't directly intervene and offer guidance, I can only take a roundabout approach and send him a small gift to ensure his safety, calm his mind, and prevent him from being swallowed by the evil energy too soon."

"This is both giving him a glimmer of hope and... hehe, paving the way for your future, so you won't marry a heartless devil."

Speaking of gifts, he winked and his tone became somewhat sly: "That sword, well, I just picked it up from some clueless bandit's den. It looked pretty sharp, so I tossed it to him. As for that string of prayer beads..."

Xuanji Zhenren suddenly lowered his voice, leaned closer to Jiang Dusheng, and said like a thief:

"It's a treasure that your master kept hidden away. That old bald monk... ah, I mean, that old monk accumulated a lot of merit over a long period of time to nurture it. It's the best for calming the mind and suppressing evil spirits! I saw that this kid needed it, so I borrowed it."

Jiang Dusheng: "..."

No wonder the master kept complaining about losing things for a while; it turned out they had been "borrowed" or given away.

This reminded her of another crucial thing.

Her expression turned serious as she looked at Master Xuanji: "Master, the malevolent energy on my body is something I was born with, but the malevolent energy on him..."

She turned to Xie Jinchen, "I felt something was strange when I first saw him. Although he had the murderous aura of a battlefield, the fierce and gloomy murderous intent in his foundation seemed somewhat innate."

The playful expression on Xuanji Zhenren's face vanished completely. His gaze swept over Xie Jinchen's calm face, and he slowly spoke:

"The malevolent aura emanating from this kid does not originate from himself, but from a cause and effect forcibly grafted onto him by someone else."

His tone was solemn. "His biological father committed an act that was extremely immoral and contrary to the laws of heaven and human ethics. Fearing retribution, he used a master to transfer the karmic consequences of this heinous crime to his newborn son."

Xuanji Zhenren paused, looked at Xie Jinchen, and a trace of pity flashed in his eyes:

"Using blood ties as a guide and destiny as a medium, he was made to take on the burden of karma and misfortune that his biological father should not have borne. Therefore, this boy has been plagued by misfortune since childhood, not because he was born with it, but because he was artificially made to be his substitute."

Xie Jinchen listened quietly, without the slightest surprise on his face, as if he had already expected it.

He even calmly replied the moment Xuanji Zhenren finished speaking, his voice flat yet carrying a chilling insight:

"That esteemed master is the abbot of Huguo Temple, isn't he?"

Master Xuanji gave him a deep look and shook his head: "I cannot say for sure. But the Huguo Temple has a long history, and some of its secret techniques can indeed touch upon forbidden areas such as the transfer of cause and effect."

Xie Jinchen's lips curled into a self-deprecating smile.

He said in a low voice, "No wonder... all these years, he seemed to indulge me, giving me whatever I asked for. Gold, silver, wealth, power, and status—he never hesitated to give them to me whenever I asked. I once thought... perhaps there was some fatherly affection involved."

Xie Jinchen paused, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly. "So, it was just compensation for a successful scheme, a burden of guilt in his heart. That's all. He only ever had scheming and guilt towards me, never any fatherly affection."

The night wind swept through the courtyard, and the glow of the lanterns flickered, casting dim shadows on his pale profile.

Seeing Xie Jinchen and Jiang Dusheng's serious expressions, Xuanji Zhenren suddenly chuckled, breaking the heavy atmosphere.

He stroked his beard, and a newfound understanding and profound insight into the ways of the world returned to his eyes:

"Although malevolent energy is a shackle, it can also be a key. Karmic obstacles must be cleared, and karmic consequences must be repaid. The road ahead is long, for the two little children."

His gaze shifted between the two, his tone carrying the earnestness of an elder:

"However, it's always better to carry the burden together than to walk it alone. In this world, with someone by your side, even the most difficult road can be paved with your own path."