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

Jiang Dusheng looked in the direction of the sound and saw Xie Jinchen standing by the door at some point.

Although his face was still somewhat pale from blood loss, his eyes were bright and he seemed to have recovered a lot.

He leaned against the door frame, arms crossed, leisurely looking into the room, a mocking smile playing on his lips.

Caught red-handed by the person in question, Huiming stood up and coughed twice, feigning seriousness:

"Ahem. This old monk can't stand you lovey-dovey nonsense! Out of sight, out of mind!"

He turned around and beckoned to Wang Dazhuang, who was still fidgeting with Hong'an's body by the bedside, his tone tinged with impatience:

"Let's go, let's go. Hong'an, don't stand here in the way, come with me for some fresh air."

Wang Dazhuang raised his head blankly, and protested in the authoritative voice of Abbot Hong'an, "Master, my name is Wang Dazhuang, not Hong'an!"

"Enough talk! This body belongs to Hong An, so you are Hong An! Let's go!" Without another word, Huiming grabbed Wang Dazhuang's monk's robe sleeve and pulled him outside.

"Hey, hey, hey! Master, please be gentle! This robe is made of very precious material!" Wang Dazhuang shouted as he was being dragged away, his voice gradually fading into the distance.

Watching the two figures pull and tug as they left, Jiang Dusheng couldn't help but rub his forehead. Then, remembering something, he raised his voice and asked:

"Master, where did Second Master go? Why haven't we seen him?"

Upon hearing this, Huiming, who had already reached the door, paused, turned back, gave Jiang Dusheng a smug wink, and said:

"That stinky Taoist priest? Humph, his nose is sharper than a dog's, and his mouth is gluttonous! This old monk used a little trick to send him to buy roast chicken!"

After saying that, he dragged the reluctant Wang Dazhuang out the door.

Only Jiang Dusheng and Xie Jinchen remained.

Xie Jinchen watched Huiming and Wang Dazhuang's retreating figures, a hint of a smile flashing in his eyes. He then turned around and walked to the bedside.

His gaze swept over the medicine bowl that Huiming had casually placed on the small table beside the bed, which was still steaming.

He reached out and picked up the medicine bowl, feeling the temperature with his fingertips. It was just right, warm but not scalding.

Xie Jinchen held the medicine to Jiang Dusheng's lips, his voice gentle, "Drink the medicine first. It was specially prepared by your master and will help you recover your energy."

Jiang Dusheng's stomach churned at the suffocatingly bitter smell.

She instinctively turned her head away, her brows furrowed, her face full of resistance. "I won't drink it. I'm much better now, I don't need to drink this."

She has been afraid of hardship since she was a child, a problem that even her master finds troublesome.

Xie Jinchen paused, looking at the dark medicine in the bowl, then at Jiang Dusheng's profile filled with unwavering defiance, and then at how Huiming had quickly made an excuse to leave as soon as she saw him...

He understood instantly.

No wonder the master brought in the medicine but didn't watch her drink it; instead, he hurriedly dragged Wang Dazhuang away. It turned out he knew she wouldn't drink it and deliberately left the problem for himself.

A hint of amusement flashed in Xie Jinchen's eyes, but he showed no sign of embarrassment.

He calmly placed the medicine bowl back on the small table.

"Okay." His voice was calm, revealing no emotion.

Jiang Dusheng glanced at him with some surprise, seemingly not expecting him to give up so easily.

Just as she breathed a sigh of relief, Xie Jinchen said in a casual tone:

"Wait for me a moment."

Then, he stood up and walked out of the room.

Xie Jinchen returned quickly.

He walked back to the bedside and sat down, his expression normal, revealing nothing unusual.

He pulled a yellow talisman from his robes and looked at Jiang Dusheng with a serious expression:

"I just ran into my second master at the door. He gave it to me in a mysterious way, saying it was a newly developed life-saving talisman that could protect the heart and stabilize the soul at critical moments."

He frowned slightly, unfolded the talisman paper a little, and pointed to some intricate cinnabar patterns on it:

"But looking at the rune pattern, there are a few nodes I don't quite recognize. Could you take a look?"

Jiang Dusheng had no suspicions.

The art of talismans is profound and complex, with each school, sect, and even individual possessing unique drawing techniques.

Second Master has always liked to tinker with strange and unusual things, so it's not surprising that he came up with a new talisman.

"Oh? Let me see." She straightened up a bit and leaned closer to Xie Jinchen.

Just as her attention was completely drawn to the talisman, and she was caught off guard...

Xie Jinchen flicked his wrist, and the talisman was slapped onto Jiang Dusheng's forehead with lightning speed.

Jiang Dusheng felt a chill on his forehead, then his whole body stiffened, as if his limbs were bound by invisible ropes, unable to move.

She realized instantly, it was a freezing spell!

It's an improved, extremely effective immobilization charm!

"Xie Jinchen! You... um!" She was so angry that she wanted to curse, but as soon as she opened her mouth, Xie Jinchen had already picked up the bowl of medicine next to her with lightning speed.

He moved quickly but not chaotically, supporting Jiang Dusheng's head firmly with one hand to prevent her from choking due to being frozen, while holding the medicine bowl in the other hand with the rim pressed against her lips.

The bitter medicine flowed steadily into Jiang Dusheng's slightly open mouth.

Jiang Dusheng stared wide-eyed, both shocked and furious, but unable to resist, he could only swallow.

The nauseating bitterness instantly filled my mouth and rushed straight to my brain.

The bowl of medicine was quickly emptied.

Xie Jinchen smoothly put down the medicine bowl, and quickly peeled the immobilization talisman off her forehead with his other hand.

The moment the restraints were lifted, before Jiang Dusheng could even react, a candied plum coated in icing sugar was stuffed into his mouth.

She held the plum in her mouth, the words of her curse stuck in her throat, yet she couldn't bear to spit it out because the medicine was too bitter.

Unable to swallow her anger, she could only glare at Xie Jinchen with her eyes, which were misty with rage and the effects of the drug.

Xie Jinchen calmly took out a plain handkerchief and gently wiped away the remaining medicine stains from the corner of Jiang Dusheng's lips.

His expression was focused, as if the person who had just used the immobilization talisman to force-feed him had nothing to do with him.

"Is it still bitter?" He lowered his voice, his gaze falling on her slightly furrowed brow. "Would you like to have another one?"

As he spoke, he took out a small oil paper packet from his sleeve, inside which lay a few plums.

Jiang Dusheng had a half-melted plum in his mouth, the sweet and sour taste barely suppressing the churning bitterness.

Looking at the innocent-looking person in front of him, and recalling his own disheveled state after being forcibly given the drug, he was so angry that he laughed instead.

Instead of answering, she looked at Xie Jinchen, suddenly raised the corners of her lips, and revealed a gentle smile.

But when Xie Jinchen saw that smile, it inexplicably sent a chill down his spine, and alarm bells rang in his mind.

"Xie, Jin, Chen," Jiang Dusheng said, each word deliberate and soft as a feather, yet carrying an invisible pressure, "You just wait."

Xie Jinchen's brow twitched, realizing he had truly angered the man, and he admitted his mistake without hesitation, "I was wrong."

His tone was sincere, and his eyes were genuine.

But he paused, then couldn't help but add in a low voice, "But bitter medicine is good for you."