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

In the instant Xie Jinchen loosened his grip, his eyes darted around, and while he was still breathing, he suddenly opened his throat and screamed shrilly into the room:

"Help! A villain has broken into the mansion! Help! Grab your weapons!"

"Ouch--"

The last cry of pain was cut off.

"Snap!"

A clear, crisp sound.

Xie Jinchen's eyes turned cold, and his fingers twisted and dislocated a joint on Xie Jinchen's shoulder blade.

The doorman screamed like a pig being slaughtered, his right arm hanging limply at his sides. The excruciating pain brought tears to his eyes, and he could no longer utter a complete cry, only hissing sounds of gasping for breath.

Almost simultaneously, a series of hurried and chaotic footsteps came from inside the door.

A group of servants wielding sticks rushed out and quickly formed a battle formation at the door, surrounding Xie Jinchen and Jiang Dusheng.

A middle-aged man wearing a brocade robe walked out from inside the door.

The man glanced at the pale-faced gatekeeper clutching his arm, then looked at Xie Jinchen and Jiang Dusheng, who stood calmly in front of the door, and quickly weighed his options.

These two men were extraordinary in appearance, clothing and demeanor, and they showed no fear in front of the Jia family members. They were probably not ordinary people.

He had made up his mind, stepped forward, cupped his hands in a respectful greeting, and put on a smooth smile, but his eyes betrayed his probing and wariness:

"Distinguished guests, please forgive my poor eyesight. I am Jia Fu, the steward of the Jia family. I have no idea how I, an ignorant servant, could have offended you two so much that this young master would resort to such extreme measures?"

"To trespass into a private residence and injure a servant in broad daylight... is that... somewhat unreasonable and illegal?"

Before Xie Jinchen could speak, Jiang Dusheng stepped forward and stood beside him.

She ignored the butler's polite words, her gaze sweeping over the high walls and courtyard before finally settling on the butler's face, cutting straight to the point:

"We wouldn't presume to say we trespassed; we came here following something that had gone missing from our own home."

She paused, a slightly mocking smile curving her lips. "I've heard that your esteemed household employs a Taoist priest with profound magical abilities? Would you be so kind as to invite him out for a meeting? It seems our lost item has been invited into your residence as a guest by the Taoist priest."

The butler Jia Fu's smile froze, and his eyes flickered.

There is indeed a Taoist priest in the manor, and he is a distinguished guest of the master. This matter is quite secretive. How did this woman know about it?

He chuckled twice, trying to maintain his composure, and continued to evade the question: "You flatter me, young lady. A few days ago, a wandering Taoist priest did pass through our humble abode. Our master is always charitable, and seeing that the priest looked travel-worn, he let him stay in the guest room for a few days as a gesture of hospitality."

"As for what the young lady said, I'm afraid it's a misunderstanding. The Daoist priest is a recluse; how could he take someone's things without reason?"

Jiang Dusheng's patience ran out, and he stopped pretending to be friendly with him.

She raised her hand, and her fingertips somehow caught a talisman, with a faint golden light emanating from it.

"A misunderstanding?" Her voice turned cold. "If you can't make the decision, why not ask your master, or... that Taoist priest who's temporarily staying here, to speak up?"

Although the light from the talisman at her fingertips was faint, anyone with a discerning eye could tell that it was no ordinary object.

Coupled with the undeniable aura emanating from her and Xie Jinchen, Jia Fu knew that this matter was unlikely to end well.

These two people in front of us are no ordinary people, and they cannot be intimidated by the servants' sticks.

But the master and that Taoist priest were discussing important matters in the west courtyard at the moment, and he had specifically instructed that they should not be disturbed…

These two people in front of me are clearly not to be trifled with. Trying to stop them by force probably won't work, and it would only make things worse.

The weighing of pros and cons can happen in an instant.

Jia Fu raised his hand and shouted at the servants behind him, "All of you, stand back! You have no sense of propriety! How dare you be so insolent in front of our distinguished guest!"

The servants looked at each other, then obediently stepped back a few paces to make way.

Jia Fu turned to the side, forcing a smooth, ingratiating smile back onto his face, and gestured towards the doorway:

"Distinguished guests, our servants were rude and offended you greatly. Please forgive them. Would you please come to the front courtyard's flower hall for a cup of tea? While we wait a moment, I will inform the master of your arrival. How does that sound?"

Xie Jinchen and Jiang Dusheng exchanged a glance and followed Jia Fu inside.

Just as the two figures entered the Jia Mansion, from the eaves of a distant mansion, a figure almost blended into the gray tiles quietly peeked out, its face half-exposed, staring intently at the direction of the Jia Mansion's gate.

He spoke in a very low voice to the person beside him: "Send a message to the Duke that the young master and Miss Jiang have been bogged down by the Jia family's affairs."

As soon as he finished speaking, the figure slid off the roof and disappeared into the alley.

Inside the Jia mansion, Jia Fu led Jiang Dusheng and Xie Jinchen through the front courtyard.

After walking along a corridor, Jiang Dusheng and Xie Jinchen stopped at the same time, without prior arrangement.

Jiang Dusheng turned directly to the left onto a winding path leading deep into the mansion.

"Miss! That's the inner courtyard, you can't go there!" Jia Fu was shocked and hurriedly stepped forward to stop her.

However, before he could even take a step, Xie Jinchen swayed and appeared in front of Jia Fu, his tall figure casting a shadow that completely blocked Jia Fu's pursuit.

He tilted his head slightly, glancing at Jia Fu's face out of the corner of his eye, his voice calm:

"Your opponent is me."

Before he finished speaking, Jiang Dusheng had already used his movement technique and disappeared behind the artificial hill and flowers in a few leaps.

Jia Fu watched helplessly as Jiang Dusheng disappeared, stamping his feet in frustration. Knowing things were about to go wrong, he disregarded everything else and shouted sternly at the servants who had gathered around:

"Quick! Stop her! We can't let her get into the west courtyard! Charge!"

The servants snapped out of their daze and brandished their sticks. Some tried to bypass Xie Jinchen and chase after Jiang Dusheng, while others mustered their courage and surrounded Xie Jinchen.

However, Jiang Dusheng moved nimbly and swiftly, avoiding the occasional passing maids and servants, and soon arrived at a more secluded courtyard.

The courtyard gate was tightly closed, and several strangely written talismans were pasted on it.

Inside the courtyard, a wailing, howling sound pierced through the door, coming clearly:

"Let me out! You blind, stinking Taoist priest! Do you know who's behind me? It's Jiang Dusheng from Nanchansi Temple! Master Jiang! If you capture me, she'll definitely follow the scent and come find you, beating you to a pulp so badly you won't even be able to find your way back to the afterlife!"

Jiang Dusheng: "..."

Her hand, which was pushing the door open, paused almost imperceptibly.

Immediately afterwards, Wang Dazhuang's even more piercing wails rang out again, "If there are any wandering ghosts, brothers and sisters outside the door, please have mercy! Find me a woman named Jiang Dusheng!"

"Tell her that her most loyal and capable ghost has been captured by the old Taoist priest! I, Wang Dazhuang, am no coward! Waaah... I didn't find a wife in my life, and I don't have a ghost wife in my death either. Now I'm locked up in this dark bag. I'm so miserable!"

Ruan Guyan, who had followed closely behind Jiang Dusheng, couldn't help but twitch her lips and muttered helplessly:

"Brother Wang... is as energetic as ever."

Just then, a talisman flew out from behind Jiang Dusheng and headed straight for her.

Jiang Dusheng did not turn around, nor did he move his body much. He only relied on his extraordinary spiritual sense and fighting instinct to slightly tilt his head and narrowly avoid the direct attack of the talisman.

A ghostly green flame grazed her temple, lifting a few strands of hair. The strange sensation of heat and cold intertwined made her frown slightly.