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

Wang Dazhuang's eyes lit up instantly, and he was so excited that his shadow swayed: "Really?! Master, please cut it right away! I don't care, just cut it that way!"

Jiang Dusheng finally looked up and glanced at him with a half-smile: "I dare not cut it."

Wang Dazhuang was taken aback, and inexplicably felt a chill run down his spine. "Why? Master, is there anything you're afraid to cut?"

Jiang Dusheng slowly continued cutting, outlining a rough human figure: "I dare to cut, but do you dare to go in? That's the Lord of the Underworld, the Great Emperor of Fengdu."

"Feng... Fengdu Emperor?!" Wang Dazhuang's ghostly figure trembled violently, as if frozen by invisible ice, almost causing his soul to become unstable and disintegrate. His voice even changed in fright:

"Well, forget it then. That would be too much of a burden for a ghost! No, no, even being utterly destroyed wouldn't be enough! Ordinary ghost messengers would cower in a corner like stones if they just passed by, let alone dare to even dream of the Lord of the Underworld… We can't afford to offend him!"

He was so terrified that his entire being shrank into a ball, desperately trying to squeeze into a darker corner of the carriage, as if just mentioning that name was enough to kill him again.

Then, as if remembering something, he suddenly raised his translucent finger and pointed it at Jiang Dusheng, his tone full of accusation:

"No! Master, that's not fair!"

His voice rose sharply, "You've seen the Emperor of Fengdu in person?! Why didn't you let me come out to pay my respects! Even just a glimpse from afar would be enough to share in his good fortune!"

"If I could receive a blessing from him even with a casual remark, I'd be reborn into a good family in my next life and live to be a hundred!"

Jiang Dusheng: "..."

She silently put down the scissors, closed her eyes, and silently recited a calming mantra, deciding not to argue with this strangely eccentric ghost.

Seeing this, Ruan Guyan, who had been quiet for a long time, couldn't help but chuckle softly. "Brother Wang, you've witnessed such extraordinary encounters with Miss Jiang; it's a blessing that even ordinary ghosts can hardly attain."

"Just focus on doing your duty, and good things will come in the future. Why be so fixated on a single visit? In my opinion, by following Miss Jiang, you will surely have a peaceful and prosperous life in your next life, and live to be a hundred years old."

Upon hearing this, Wang Dazhuang abruptly turned his head, his eyes widening as he looked at Ruan Guyan, his tone exaggerated:

"Miss Ruan! You...you, you, you! You're even better at sweet-talking than I am! Your flattery skills are truly remarkable!"

Jiang Dusheng was too lazy to pay attention to Wang Dazhuang's jokes anymore. The silver scissors seemed to come alive in her hands, moving smoothly and effortlessly.

Soon, the two paper figures were cut out.

Wang Dazhuang, who couldn't wait any longer, cheered when he saw this, and his soul transformed into a stream of light, darting into the male paper figure.

The paper figure landed and instantly filled up, transforming into a living person. He excitedly moved his limbs, touched his face, and tugged at the brocade robe that had materialized on his body, grinning broadly.

"Haha! This one's much sturdier!"

Ruan Guyan also bowed gratefully to Jiang Dusheng, and then merged into the female paper figure.

The paper figure then took human form, transforming into a graceful woman dressed in simple, elegant clothes.

Ruan Guyan looked at her new body with curiosity.

Suddenly I feel that being a ghost isn't so bad after all; at least you can change your body whenever you want.

How about... I try playing with a different man's body tomorrow? The thought flashed through her mind and made her laugh at herself.

Wang Dazhuang, unable to contain himself, chuckled, "Master, it's stuffy in the car. I'll go upstairs for some fresh air and keep an eye on the road for you, to see if any fools or thieves dare to approach!"

After saying that, he nimbly lifted a corner of the carriage curtain, darted out, and climbed onto the roof of the carriage in a few quick movements.

Wang Dazhuang sat down and deliberately straightened his back, as if he were really on inspection.

Occasionally, it would bare its teeth at some low-level wandering ghosts and spirits that ordinary people couldn't see by the roadside, scaring those weak spirits into hiding.

Seeing this, Ruan Guyan smiled and gracefully stepped out of the carriage, sitting on the other side of the carriage roof.

She had always adhered to traditional virtues during her lifetime; she had never been so carefree.

After death, one becomes a ghost and is able to experience many things that one dared not think of or could not do in life.

After Ruan Guyan and Wang Dazhuang left, the carriage returned to silence.

Xie Jinchen suddenly put down the book, and a wisp of dark red killing intent gathered at his fingertips.

The murderous aura slowly traced several paths in the air as his fingertips moved.

He muttered to himself:

"The sky is clear and the earth is peaceful; all sounds have ceased."

"Once the talisman is completed, the inner and outer worlds are separated."

"Imperial Edict!"

As the last syllable of the incantation fell, the runes outlined by the evil energy suddenly lit up, then transformed into a halo that quickly spread out, silently enveloping the entire interior of the carriage.

Upon seeing this, Jiang Dusheng's eyes widened in disbelief as he looked at Xie Jinchen, then at the halo that completely isolated the car from the outside world.

She could clearly feel that the sounds of horses' hooves from the outside world, and even Wang Dazhuang's faint smug humming on the roof of the carriage, were instantly shut out, creating an absolutely quiet and private space inside the carriage.

"You...you learned it just by reading?!" she blurted out, her voice filled with astonishment.

She remembered that her basic book on talismans did indeed contain instructions on how to draw and incantations for sound-blocking talismans, but those required spiritual power to be activated.

He actually used malevolent energy to simulate it, and succeeded on his first try?!

Xie Jinchen looked up at her, a barely perceptible undercurrent in his gaze. He asked directly, "Did it succeed?"

Jiang Dusheng nodded subconsciously, his tone still filled with amazement: "It's a success... and it's almost identical to the one I drew with my spiritual power."

Xie Jinchen suddenly frowned slightly, raised his hand, and gently tapped his left cheek with his fingertip:

"Jiang Dusheng, look at my face, what happened? It hurts so much here."

Jiang Dusheng had no suspicions.

She immediately put down what she was holding and leaned closer.

The carriage was not very spacious to begin with, and as she approached, the distance between them instantly shrank to the point where they could hear each other breathing.

She could clearly see his long eyelashes, straight nose, and slightly pursed lips.

A faint medicinal fragrance and his unique, refreshing aura enveloped him.

Jiang Dusheng reached out and carefully cupped his face, turning him slightly to examine the spot his finger was pointing at.

"Is it here?" She pressed down slightly with her fingertips. "It doesn't look strange, and there are no external injuries... Could it be that I overexerted myself yesterday, and my meridians are still a little sore?"

She moved closer, observing carefully, her warm breath brushing against Xie Jinchen's cheek.

As soon as she finished speaking, Xie Jinchen, taking advantage of her posture of cupping her cheeks, suddenly looked up without warning, accurately captured her lips, and kissed her.

The kiss came suddenly and forcefully, instantly stealing her breath and all her thoughts.

"Ugh...!" Caught off guard, Jiang Dusheng's eyes widened suddenly, and he instinctively tried to push him away, but the hand holding the back of his neck held him firmly.

He wrapped one arm around her waist, while his other hand swiftly gripped the back of her neck, pulling her closer to him and deepening the kiss.

Just then, the carriage ran over a slightly larger stone, causing it to sway slightly.

The jolt caused Jiang Dusheng's already unbalanced body to completely lose its support, and he fell forward uncontrollably, almost completely into Xie Jinchen's arms.

He tightened his arms around her waist, lifted her up with force, and easily placed her face to face on his lap.

The close proximity of their bodies left no room for any undulations to be hidden.