White temples

Jiang Shuo seemed to sigh: "Sometimes, you don't have to go and inspect just because you notice it."

Wen Ya immediately understood. That made sense; it was possible for ordinary people to have some superstition and obtain talismans from who-knows-where for their homes. Exorcists could sense traces of talismans, but they would ignore some of the fainter signals.

“A few days ago, I sensed traces of talismans and also discovered lingering ghosts, which is why I came to investigate. And what about you? Why did you appear there?”

This is a long story about a child without a mother.

Wen Ya was silent for two seconds before recounting the story of the Soul-Returning Lamp and Shi Lu's visit.

Even though she couldn't see Jiang Shuo's expression, Wen Ya could imagine his furrowed brows after she finished speaking.

"The Soul-Resurrection Lamp? Wasn't it dormant long ago? There's no existing information on how to activate it."

Everyone had said these things, and Wen Ya herself knew that this matter was extraordinary and unbelievable, but that's how it happened.

Jiang Shuo was driving, and even though he was full of doubts and wanted to see the "revived" magical artifact with his own eyes, he didn't have time, so he could only put it aside for the time being and change the subject to another matter.

Jiang Shuo took a deep breath: "Last night we interrogated Sun Zhiyong—that madman—and he confessed to the murder. Was the ghost that came looking for us killed by Sun Zhiyong? Did he provide any identification information?"

Upon hearing this, Si Mucheng immediately sat up straight: "Then where is the body? Did he say where it is?"

Seemingly stumped by the question, Jiang Shuo paused before saying, "You mean, Sun Zhiyong buried the body after killing someone?"

Wen Ya replied, "Not only were they buried, but they were also dismembered before being buried."

Jiang Shuo remained silent.

Si Mucheng was furious when he talked about it: "That pervert, how could he do that? That young girl was studying hard and living a clean life, and he ruined her like that! Brother, he must pay with his life."

Jiang Shuo realized the heinous nature of the case and asked, "Who is the victim? I'll have the police investigate. Don't worry, if everything is true, we have ways to make him get what he deserves."

Si Mucheng nodded and quickly told him about Shi Lu's situation and the circumstances of the incident.

Jiang Shuo raised an eyebrow upon hearing this: "I know about that incident. There were many rumors circulating at the time. A teenager in his early teens going missing—anything could happen. The police searched for a long time, but they couldn't find him alive or dead. In the end, they could only guess that he had been moved to another place. The boy's father went to the police station every day, but the police had already done their best. I never expected..."

After he finished speaking, no one in the car spoke for a moment, and the atmosphere was very dull.

A moment later, Jiang Shuo tapped twice on the car's central control screen, pulled up a number, and dialed it. The call was quickly answered. Jiang Shuo briefly explained what he knew to the other person, who responded and then hung up.

Si Mucheng stared at the phone curiously for a while, and only after the call ended did he laugh and say, "Brother, in our line of work, we can cooperate with the police? Will the police believe us?"

Jiang Shuo explained, "Only Captain Cheng knows my identity. To the outside world, I am a special advisor to the police force."

Wen Ya had heard Zhao Wentian mention that Jiang Shuo had started cooperating with the police after helping to solve a case involving an evil spirit. If a case was illogical or unusual, Jiang Shuo would intervene. Although she didn't know what had happened, it was clear that the Captain Cheng that Jiang Shuo mentioned believed in ghosts.

As we talked along the way, the scenery outside the car gradually became more remote, and soon we arrived at a mountain villa.

Jiang Shuo parked the car, and Si Mucheng got out and exclaimed, "Wow!"

It was a mansion that still retained its former prosperity, with vermilion gates, green tiles, and bright red lanterns, giving it the appearance of a grand and wealthy household.

Wen Ya had visited once when she was very young, and this time she merely raised her eyelids, her face remaining calm and expressionless.

Wow, bro, your family... is a landlord!

Jiang Shuo: "..."

He laughed in exasperation: "What utter nonsense!"

Si Mucheng laughed too: "I was just a little shocked, brother, your house is really beautiful, but isn't it a bit far?" If he wasn't mistaken, it had taken them almost fifty minutes to drive there.

Jiang Shuo explained, "This is the Jiang family's main residence, and I don't usually come here."

Si Mucheng thought to himself, "They really are a wealthy family, with a large and powerful household." He leaned closer to Wen Ya, pretended to sigh, and whispered jokingly, "It's no wonder you're jealous; I would be too."

Wen Ya said seriously, "Right? Those despicable rich people."

"Then keep being jealous, and treat him even worse."

Jiang Shuo led them through the main gate, across the courtyard, and into the corridor, where they met an older woman. She was very happy to see Jiang Shuo: "A-Shuo is back? Your great-aunt just said she hadn't seen you in a long time."

Jiang Shuo nodded: "Aunt Wu."

When Wu Ma saw Wen Ya and Si Mucheng behind him, she was even happier: "A guest? Has A-Shuo brought a friend back?" As she spoke, her gaze fell on Wen Ya's face, and she hesitated for a moment. "This young lady looks a bit familiar..." Before she could finish speaking, she finally remembered and exclaimed with delight, "Isn't that Xiao Ya? Oh my, Xiao Ya has grown up so much. Today is truly a wonderful day. The old lady must be so happy!"

Wen Ya didn't remember who this person was at all, simply responded, and followed them inside. Aunt Wu led them to a small building, and Jiang Shuo asked, "How has your great-aunt been lately?"

Aunt Wu then led them upstairs, saying, "It's all the same old problem. It's been too hot lately, so they have a poor appetite and crave cold things."

Jiang Shuo clearly knew the old lady's preferences: "She's not allowed to eat ice."

Aunt Wu smiled helplessly, "Only you can say that about her." She looked at Wen Ya, "But since you've come to see her, she's half better."

It seemed that the servants had already informed them, because before they even reached the door of the room, they heard someone call out, "Xiao Ya is here? Is that Xiao Ya?" Footsteps approached from afar, and when the old lady saw Wen Ya, she almost burst into tears of joy: "It really is Xiao Ya. Xiao Ya, it's been so many years since you last came."

The old lady took two steps forward and was about to hug Wen Ya. Wen Ya was not used to such closeness and stood stiffly, but she still let the old lady hug her, feeling the warmth from the old woman's body. After a while, she softly called out, "Great-aunt."

"Oh! Good child." The old lady stroked Wen Ya's back. "Why are you so thin? You must be suffering living alone." As she spoke, her eyes reddened.

Aunt Wu chimed in, "Oh dear, old lady, don't get agitated. Let's go inside and talk. Don't leave the children standing there like fools."

Hearing this, Grandma Jiang released Wen Ya and instead took her hand, saying, "Yes, yes, come in and sit down."

Wen Ya was being led around and couldn't help but look back. Si Mucheng didn't fall behind and obediently followed behind, even winking at her when he saw her turn around. Only then did she feel relieved.

The reception room was decorated in an antique style, with mahogany sofas. Grandma Jiang held Wen Ya's hand tightly, and Wen Ya had no choice but to sit with her.

The old lady was very agitated, staring at Wen Ya and repeatedly muttering "poor thing" and "miserable life".

Seeing that Wen Ya was not very comfortable, Jiang Shuo said softly, "Grandma, don't be too sad. You should be happy that Wen Ya is here."

The old lady then wiped away her tears: "Yes, yes, let's not talk about unhappy things."

Once the old lady had calmed down a bit, she inquired in detail about Wen Ya's current living situation. Wen Ya gave a simple answer.

Upon hearing that she was exorcising spirits with Si Mucheng, the old lady turned to look at Si Mucheng.

Si Mucheng's smiling face was most pleasing to the elders. The old lady of the Jiang family liked him at first sight and said kindly, "Xiaoya has also taken on an apprentice? Well done, you have always been capable."

Since the topic of exorcism had come up, Jiang Shuo couldn't sit still any longer. He called everyone else, including Wu Ma, out of the room. Once the four of them were left in the living room, he lit the Soul-Returning Lamp.

Wen Ya came to the Jiang family for this matter as well. She didn't intend to hide anything about the Soul-Returning Lamp, because the Jiang family was also a prominent family with many knowledgeable elders.

Seeing her take out the Soul-Returning Lamp, Old Madam Jiang asked curiously, "This is the Wen family's heirloom, right? It..." But upon seeing the light on the Soul-Returning Lamp, she exclaimed in surprise, "Has it been activated?"

Wen Ya handed the Soul-Returning Lamp to Jiang Shuo so that he could see it more clearly: "It shouldn't be fully activated yet."

Jiang Shuo examined the magical artifact and immediately grasped the key point: "Three of the six petals are lit up. Were they like this from the beginning, or did they light up due to some event?"

Wen Ya glanced at him and sighed, "There is indeed an opportunity."

So she voiced her conjecture: "I suspect that the ghosts who come to the Resurrection Lamp, after their obsessions are dispelled, will not enter the cycle of reincarnation, but will instead enter the lamp itself."

As soon as she said this, everyone else looked at her with surprise.

Grandma Jiang pondered, Jiang Shuo frowned, and Si Mucheng nervously leaned closer: "Isn't this something we can't talk about?" They both thought this matter was of great importance, and since it was all just their speculation, they didn't intend to tell anyone in order to avoid unnecessary trouble.

Wen Ya reassured him with her eyes: "It's alright."

Judging from her expression, Si Mucheng believed that she trusted the Jiang family completely.

"So, you've already performed three soul exorcisms?"

"Yes, Shi Lu is the fourth one."

Jiang Shuo handed the lamp back to Wen Ya: "What do you think would happen if all the petals were lit?"

Wen Ya looked at him and said seriously, "I think this is the activation ceremony of the Soul-Returning Lamp. If all the petals light up, the lamp will activate."

"In short, the souls that come knocking on the door become fuel for the resurrection lamp?"

Although she was very reluctant to admit it, Wen Ya still nodded with difficulty: "You could think that way. But... it's hard to say, because so far, I haven't found any information about the Soul-Returning Lamp. But I did find a notebook in the Shangguan family's library. There was an anecdote about the Soul-Returning Lamp in it, and it also had the method to activate the Soul-Returning Lamp. However, the page about the activation method was torn out."