Ruan Xiangning watched Xiao He walk with such natural poise and utter fearlessness, and her heart was shaken. She knew that the person chosen for the ** in the Vajra Array faced a razor's edge between life and death, a chance where one might easily perish.

“Wang Xiao He, are you truly willing to be the ** for Zhou Huan?” Ruan Xiangning probed, testing Wang Xiao He.

Xiao He offered no words, merely nodding softly: “I am willing!”

“The ** demands the spilling of blood. Are you prepared to scatter all of your blood upon me?” Ruan Xiangning questioned again, her tension evident.

Xiao He smiled blissfully: “Brother Huan, rest assured, my blood, my very being, is yours. You may command it as you wish.” Having spoken, Xiao He thrust her finger into her mouth, revealing her snow-white teeth, and bit down hard. Crimson blood welled up and streamed forth: “Ruan Xiangning, this is my blood. Brother Huan, what must I do next?”

Zhou Huan, his eyes still lightly closed, instructed, “Simply point your finger toward the statue. Leave the rest to us. Remember, if you grow tired, close your eyes!”

“Understood!” Xiao He slowly raised the finger she had bitten, its tip directed toward Ruan Xiangning.

Ruan Xiangning managed a bitter smile: “Zhou Huan, congratulations. You have found another person who loves you this deeply. Is our connection truly over then? Can you truly bear to treat me this way?” This time, Ruan Xiangning’s sobs were truly wretched and unbearable.

Zhou Huan’s expression eased as he spoke, “Go now, proceed to reincarnation. Better karmic threads await you there. Let our child go as well.” As soon as Zhou Huan finished speaking, he raised his hand seal high, directing it toward Ruan Xiangning’s statue, then bellowed with a voice that shook the very air: “Disciples, draw the blood and drench the stone!”

The blood from Xiao He’s finger streamed out, forming a crimson pathway that rushed toward the statue like a great river overflowing its banks. The blood covered the statue entirely. Just as Xiao He’s fresh blood stained the very last blank patch at the statue’s base, Zhou Huan roared: “Explode!” He pushed his hand seal forward violently, separating his hands into open palms.

With an answering crack, the statue fractured. Shards of broken stone tumbled down, scattering across the ground, kicking up billowing clouds of dust.

As the dust slowly settled, what remained was Zhou Huan seated in the lotus position, and behind him, Ruan Xiangning gazing at him with profound affection. At this moment, Ruan Xiangning possessed no power; she was merely an ordinary ghost, weeping while clutching an infant in her arms.

“Zhou Huan, I bless you both. Do you not even wish to look at your child?” Ruan Xiangning’s cries were truly heartbreaking, and the infant in her embrace echoed her wails.

Zhou Huan turned, slowly opening his eyes: “Child, our karmic bond is concluded. Go follow your mother into rebirth. Live well in your next life.”

Zhou Huan’s words seemed remarkably effective; the infant suddenly ceased crying, becoming intensely, utterly quiet.

“Xiangning, look at our child. He has agreed. What reason do you have left to linger? I know you cannot bear to let go of this feeling, but ultimately, humans and ghosts must walk separate paths. I urge you to seek reincarnation soon,” Zhou Huan stated with clear, serious reasoning.

Ruan Xiangning’s shadow grew fainter. She wiped her tears and managed another bitter laugh: “My dear, look at me now. Can I even reincarnate in this state? Those I harmed to death—haha—perhaps I should just extinguish them!”

“Alas, let me do one final thing for you. From this moment on, you must follow me. When I call you, you must appear. Do exactly as I command, and only then, when the task is complete, can I help you transition. Otherwise, not even an immortal can save you.” Zhou Huan, being a master-level figure, always possessed ways to navigate the affairs of gods and spirits.

Wang Xiao He had already collapsed unconscious. What kept her standing was nothing less than the deep love she held for Zhou Huan, her absolute faith in him, and her immense resilience and willpower.

Zhou Huan picked up a small stone from the ground, then inscribed a seal character upon it: “Xiangning, bring the child inside!” Ruan Xiangning looked at the stone in Zhou Huan’s hand, then at Wang Xiao He, and dissolved into a wisp of thin Yin energy, clutching the child as she drifted into the stone Zhou Huan held.

Zhou Huan carefully tucked the stone away, then turned to attend to Xiao He. He used strips torn from his own cotton garments to bandage all of her wounds: “Hong Kun, hurry and drive to the hospital. Dong Zi, Tian Xiong, come help. Shi Bingyuan, you stay and clear the scene.”

Immediately afterward, Zhou Huan lifted Xiao He into his arms and ran toward the front door. Hong Kun’s car was already parked at the entrance. Holding Xiao He tightly, Zhou Huan whispered close to her ear, “Xiao He, hold on. Thank you!”

“Brother, wait a moment, I need to go back for the money,” Dong Zi suddenly remembered that Zhou Huan’s bundle was still in the backyard, and he sprinted back for it.

In the blink of an eye, Dong Zi returned, handing the bundle to Zhou Huan. Zhou Huan instructed, “Go back and help Shi Bingyuan clean up the site. Tian Xiong and I are enough for the hospital run.”

“Sigh, alright!” Dong Zi glanced at Xiao He, then turned back toward the house. As soon as he reached the backyard, he saw Shi Bingyuan staring blankly ahead. Dong Zi placed his hands on his hips, looking down at Shi Bingyuan with disdain: “Hmph, hmph, how about that? Still powerless, aren't you? My brother is the truly capable one, right? Hahaha!” His laugh was quite loud.

The neighbors from upstairs and downstairs could no longer stand it. A young man on the fourth floor leaned out and yelled at Dong Zi: “Stop talking! Are you filming something? Ghosts and gods one minute!”

“Exactly! Give people a chance to sleep! You’re too loud!” Another family also leaned out: “Brother Dong, I beg you, could you be quieter? I have work tomorrow!”

Dong Zi looked around, annoyed: “I’m leaving right now. Why are you shouting? Careful, I’ll smack you!”

Indeed, Dong Zi had a reputation in the neighborhood for being tough. At his remark, the entire area upstairs and downstairs fell utterly silent.

Seeing Dong Zi like this, Shi Bingyuan realized he couldn't reason with him. Having gotten a sense of Dong Zi’s character over the last couple of days, he decided not to bother arguing and began tidying the backyard himself. He and Dong Zi headed toward the hospital. At the hospital, Zhou Huan waited anxiously outside the emergency room doors. Li Tianxiong had just finished helping Zhou Huan complete the admission procedures for Xiao He and was heading upstairs when he saw Dong Zi and Shi Bingyuan arrive.

Shi Bingyuan was older, and calling Zhou Huan "Master" in public felt too awkward. He bowed respectfully to Zhou Huan instead: “How is Xiao He’s condition?”

Zhou Huan replied calmly, “In the past, when emergency medical techniques were underdeveloped, that’s why Ruan Xiangning died—it’s the reason she resented me. Now that medical arts have advanced, Xiao He should be fine.”

The group waited anxiously outside the operating room. Two hours passed before the light inside flickered off. Several medical staff emerged, pushing the still-unconscious Xiao He on a gurney.

Zhou Huan stepped forward nervously, asking the doctor: “How is she? Is anything seriously wrong?”

“The patient is fine; she just lost a significant amount of blood. Combined with the impact to the back of her head, she might have a mild concussion, but she’ll recover with rest. Don’t worry; keep her hospitalized for observation. Physically, she is basically out of danger.” The doctor spoke lightly, then took the admission forms from Zhou Huan. Several nurses wheeled Xiao He into the intensive observation ward.

“Good, it’s a relief,” Zhou Huan’s disciples murmured.

Watching Xiao He settled into the ICU, Zhou Huan arranged for Li Tianxiong and Dong Zi to stand guard there, while he, Shi Bingyuan, and Hong Kun left the hospital and got into the car.

In the car, Shi Bingyuan asked quietly, “Chu... Master, where are we going?”

“Master Shi, I know it feels unnatural for you to call me Master. From now on, call me whatever feels comfortable; I won't force you. Accepting you into the sect this time was just a formality. If you still wish to return to your former trade, I, Zhou Huan, will absolutely not stop you.” Zhou Huan was generous, which made Shi Bingyuan feel thoroughly ashamed.

Hong Kun spoke up, “Since we have bowed to Master Zhou, we will call you that from now on. I never let considerations of age interfere; I acknowledge you as my Master.”

Shi Bingyuan quickly explained: “Master, it’s not that I refuse to call you that. It’s just that I have some assets at my shop I want to move over. I want to put them in as a share here—consider it the tuition fee for Hong Kun and myself becoming your disciples.”

“Hahaha, ‘Master’ is just a title; do as you wish. We are heading to the old woman’s place now. I need to take Ruan Xiangning to apologize to every household one by one, striving to earn forgiveness from those families. Only with their forgiveness does she have a chance at reincarnation.”

The three chatted as Hong Kun drove. Before they realized it, they had reached the old woman’s home. The lights in her house had been repaired, and though dawn was nearly breaking, the lamps inside were still lit, yet there was absolute silence.

Zhou Huan knocked normally. No one answered.

“Perhaps the elderly lady sleeps deeply, and with her age, her hearing might be a bit weak,” Hong Kun offered by way of explanation for Zhou Huan.

Zhou Huan surveyed the scene inside, his expression suddenly tightening. He turned back and began kicking the door: “Quick, help me force the door open! The old lady might already be gone.” “What?” Hong Kun couldn’t quite believe his ears. “How could that be? I was just here a few days ago, and you met her then, Master!”

“Stop wasting time, kick!” The three of them together smashed the metal door open and rushed inside. The interior was still eerily quiet. A small altar table was set up near the far wall, holding the deceased’s memorial tablet, with some offerings placed beneath it.

Beneath the altar table, the old woman sat cross-legged on a cushion, her facial expression supremely peaceful, eyes shut tight. In her hands, she held a small slip of paper. A few characters could be faintly discerned: Zhou Huan, for Master Zhou to open. Others must not touch, lest they incur heavenly retribution.

Seeing these words, Zhou Huan called out softly: “Old woman, are you still here?”

The elder did not stir. A gust of wind blew the door, and Hong Kun abruptly turned, seeing nothing there.

“Elder Sister, please say something. What is happening to you?” Shi Bingyuan approached the old woman gently alongside Zhou Huan.

Zhou Huan walked up to the old woman, slowly extending a hand toward her nose, while his other hand reached out to take the paper she held.